BANK tech-trends News
 

February 23, 2009 - February 27, 2009

• Hardware News
• Software Updates
• ATMs/Kiosks
• Biometric Digest Highlights
• Wireless World
• Security Section
• Leaders Roundtable
• Technology and Marketing
• Online Banking/E-Commerce/
  Website Design
• Internet Access
• Call Centers

Hardware News

Asempra Technologies introduced an enhanced version of its Business Continuity Server (BCS), which adds the recovery of SQL databases. BCS 3.0 is a server recovery product that protects business-critical applications from either local outages or disasters. The company says that the appliance enables the recovery of a multi-terabyte SQL database in as little as 30 seconds. BCS 3.0 uses Asempra’s Virtual-On-Demand Recovery technology to allow complete database restoration in the background.

The ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive is a portable hard drive that looks like it merged with an ATM keypad. The addition of the keypad on the front of the device provides one layer of security — a computer won't recognize the drive until you enter the correct PIN. As many as 10 user passwords (six to 16 digits) can be stored on the device, and the drive supports 128-bit AES security along with full disk encryption.

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ATMs/Kiosks

Level Four Americas, a provider of open standards-based ATM software, in its most recent commissioned consumer survey conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive, found that 67 percent of U.S. adults who have a primary financial institution with ATMs would be at least somewhat likely to switch financial institutions if their primary financial institution suffered an instance of ATM fraud or data breach. Further, nearly one in four (24 percent) would be likely or very likely to consider switching primary financial institutions in the case of an ATM security compromise.

In related stories, ATM fraudsters have been busy lately. A Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly reprogramming the code in an ATM and taking $7,400 from the machine. Police investigated when bank employees reported that there were ATM transactions where the code for the cash bill denominations was changed prior to the transactions. The machine was being reprogrammed to record cash distributions that were much less than what was actually paid out. Meanwhile in Washington state, police are investigating a string of thefts in which a group of people apparently tricked an ATM out of $60,000 over several months. The thefts allegedly occurred at one Boeing ECU machine where the thieves were able to manipulate the machine's software in a way that caused it not to recognize that it had dispensed money, and it would then dispense money again.

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Some biometric proponents are urging organizations to purchase laptops and netbooks with built-in biometric sensors because they believe that not only is it a better and more convenient authentication method, but they recommend it because it forces users to put and keep security top of mind. They are convinced that this psychology will trickle down to everything employees do and the way they approach security in general, and generally make for a more diligent employees.

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Visa announced plans to work with the GSMA to help advance the delivery of mobile financial services around the world. Their plans call for Visa and the GSMA to create a set of standards for mobile phone-based money transfers, mobile payment and related services. They hope this collaboration will allow carriers and financial institutions to deploy mobile payments more rapidly and limit market fragmentation. They say that standardization will promote interoperability among carriers and institutions to ensure a consistent and reliable experience, and help promote faster adoption of mobile payment technologies.

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CSC has introduced ComplyID which is a Web-based service that provides automatic detection and resolution of potential identity fraud attempts. ComplyID is a decision and workflow software solution that addresses sections 315 and 114 of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act of 2003 (FACTA) by identifying and resolving bureau alerts and ID discrepancies, and providing tracking and reporting for compliance measures.

ConSentry introduced a new version of software for its intelligent switches that adds a permanent agent for assessing endpoint posture and can assess what Windows operating system patches have been applied. New software for the company’s LANShield intelligent switches and its LANShield Controller access-policy appliances also enables automatic remediation of shortcomings discovered via endpoint assessments. The system can blend data about user, application, protocol, port, URL, time of day and so forth to create a policy that will send warnings to IT administrators.

Top Layer Security, a network Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) vendor, has come out with a "Competitive IPS Trade-Up Program" whereby users of qualifying competitive IPS products can upgrade to Top Layer's IPS 5500-E-Series with no capital expenditures by purchasing three years of related subscription and services. They also have a "Zero CapEx IPS Purchase Program" which is designed to help organizations obtain IPS technology with zero capital expenditure investment.

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Security:

Protecting Customer Data at Rest and in Motion

CheckFree - http://www.checkfree.com Read Christopher Beier's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CheckFree.pdf

Code Green Networks - http://www.codegreennetworks.com   Read Rod Murchison's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CGN.pdf

e-DMZ Security - http://www.e-dmzsecurity.com   Read Kris Zupan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/e-DMZ.pdf

Gladiator Technology - http://www.gladiatortechnology.com Read Danny Johnston's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Gladiator.pdf

Guardian Analytics - http://www.guardiananalytics.com Read Tom Miltonberger's comments:     http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Guardian.pdf

HEIT - http://www.goheit.com   Read Dan Holt's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Heit.pdf

Integrated Computer Solutions - http://www.icsinc.com   Read Keith Young's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/ICS.pdf

Intrepidus Group - http://www.intrepidusgroup.com   Read Rohyt Belani's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Intrepidus.pdf

Netsecuris - http://www.netsecuris.com   Read Leonard Jacobs' comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Netsecuris.pdf

Network Box - http://www.networkboxusa.com   Read Pierluigi Stella's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/NetworkBox.pdf

Perimeter eSecurity - http://www.perimeterusa.com   Read Kevin Prince's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Perimeter.pdf

Reclamere - http://www.reclamere.com   Read Kevin Doyle's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Reclamere.pdf

Simpler-Webb - http://www.swinc.com   Read Jeff Simpler's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SimplerWebb.pdf

SkyRecon Systems - http://www.skyrecon.com   Read Sean Martin's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SkyRecon.pdf

Software and Management Associates - http://www.smausa.com Read Michael W. Taylor's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/SMA.pdf

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MindBlazer, a marketing technology company that leverages interactive video and new media for the financial industry, announced that they experienced increased demand in 2008 for its educational, interactive content. In 2008, MindBlazer grew to provide more than 140 financial institutions with a variety of interactive media tools, and introduced MoneyMinutesTV, a syndicated series of education-based interactive videos designed to inform the public about financial products and services. MoneyMinutesTV videos are approximately one to three minutes in length and cover a range of topics that are customizable to match each bank’s brand. The content can be placed directly on high-traffic areas of the website, or used in-branch.

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When it comes to analyzing online banking websites, New York-based Corporate Insight considers eight key areas: account selection tools, account information, bill payment capabilities, transfer capabilities, self-service features, alerts, private site help and online applications. While the research firm believes more banks will deploy Web 2.0-type tools like blogs and Twitter accounts, they do not think Web 2.0 tools will be the only element that makes the online banking site of tomorrow. In many cases, traditional features, such as advanced funds transfer capabilities, online account opening ability, a variety of account and security alerts, and personalized customer service answers via secure messaging, will be the hallmarks of the best online banking sites.

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Internet Access

SolarWinds, a network monitoring company, has added a new tool to its freeware arsenal that helps network managers troubleshoot performance problems via a user interface that configures to Cisco routers, switches and other IP devices. SolarWinds Cisco IP SLA (service-level agreement) Monitor measures network performance and allows network managers to analyze specific transport metrics from a Cisco IP SLA-capable device to another Cisco router or other IP device, SolarWinds says. Historically such monitoring would require administrators to use a command line interface (CLI) to configure and read results.

Verizon Business is looking to help protect their clients from denial-of-service-attacks. Verizon Business’ service provides two fundamental and separate functions – attack detection and attack mitigation. Once an attack is detected, customers may choose simply to be notified or, they may elect to take advantage of the mitigation service in which case the traffic is filtered – still within the network – by Verizon, and only the valid traffic is passed through.

Riverbed will sell Microsoft’s Windows Server bundled with its WAN optimization devices as a way to simplify purchasing for its customers. The server will run on the Riverbed Service Platform (RSP), a partition of Riverbed’s Steelhead WAN optimization appliances that can support five VMware virtual machines per appliance. Running applications on branch office Steelheads enables organizations to consolidate the number of devices deployed in branches without actually pulling the applications out of the branches and into central data centers. To take advantage of the Windows Server bundle, customers have to buy a Steelhead device and upgrade it for about $1,000 to acquire RSP capabilities and to make sure the device has enough memory. Riverbed already accelerates specific Microsoft applications based on the applications’ unique protocol characteristics so they operate more efficiently over the WAN than if they were subjected just to Riverbed’s generic optimization techniques. These applications include Windows, Exchange, SharePoint, SQL Server, System Center Configuration Manager, Data Protection Manager and App-V.

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Call Centers

Contactual’s virtual call center solution is designed for agents that work from home and the company says that their system is readily adaptable for people with disabilities. They tout the following features:

- Flexible connectivity that allow agents, working from homes nationwide, to be connected via either Voice over IP (VoIP) or hard line phone systems
- Records live calls and training sessions that can be used again to remotely train new agents
- Integrates with NetSuite’s Customer Relationship Management software

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