Home Office security regulator pilots biometrics

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has abandoned the use of passwords and deployed fingerprint readers on computer mice for staff to login to their computers.

A spokesman for the authority said the scheme has gone well.

"The SIA chose biometric authentication over passwords for strong authentication, encryption and access control," said Tim O'Neill, assistant director for IT at the SIA.  "We have made large savings on help-desk calls and IT support as people no longer forget their passwords."

ISL Biometrics sold the solution to SIA for the two start-ups in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which went live on 1 March.

The SIA was launched to regulate the private security industry and to raise standards within the security industry.