Kern cites two purposes in creating long-term relationships with other companies. First, these alliances help in marketing products to a wider base of customers. In addition, cooperation between companies helps move technologies into the next generation of innovations. The biometric and optional scan card elements enable users to obtain access to multiple, preapproved systems with one access procedure, thus controlling access to individual user workstations as well as to enterprise applications. One SP Sign On product, the Unisys BioPin, features a finger touch pad located on the computer keyboard.
Users gain access by placing a fingertip on the pad, which reads the individual's fingerprint.
This type of identification verification eliminates the need for users to memorize several passwords to access different areas of several systems. For example, a verified fingerprint will provide access to the user's LAN, e-mail and wide area network. For additional security, smart cards can be used in conjunction with the biometric device. The product family also facilitates administration of security processes through the SP User Manager. It automates the management of large systems by providing the administrator with user profiles across operating systems, application systems and desktops in the entire enterprise.