Biometrics in Data Centers: Palms or Eyeballs?

Biometric security devices have become familiar features at data centers. In many facilities, palm scanners (shown at left) are used to authenticate the identity of employees and customers prior to entering the equipment area. This month the UK hosting company Telecity said it has installed a new security system at one of its London area data centers that uses incorporates iris scanning technology to identify staff and clients. “We understood that Telecity needed to demonstrate to its existing and prospective clients how seriously it takes the security of their equipment and data,” said Jeremy Terry, director of Meesons, which installed the system for Telecity.

Iris recognition technology has been a plot device in many Hollywood films, ranging from “Minority Report” to “The Simpsons Movie,” but has also been tested or implemented in a number of airports and schools in the US and UK. Iris scans are less intrusive than retinal scans, but nonetheless might test the comfort levels of data center staff and visitors to a larger degree than palm readers.   

I’m interested in hearing from our readers about their practices on biometrics and security.? Does your data center use biometrics? If so, do you use palm readers or iris scans? Please share your insight and experiences in the comments.