Axcess Unveils RFID Solution to Help Manage Assets
April 23, 2007 // Published as a news service by IHS
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Three civilian U.S. government agencies are installing Axcess International's patented ActiveTag wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) system for locating, tracking and protecting laptop computer assets and critical documents.
The installations come during a time when the theft of laptops and other assets is at an all time high, with similar incidents reported by groups including the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), said Axcess International.
Axcess' RFID solution is designed to prevent such thefts by working automatically to identify, locate and track assets as they move around a facility.
In October 2006, the Congressional Committee on Government Reform found that all 19 civilian agencies reported losing personally identifiable information.
Axcess' ActiveTag system is touted as providing a solution to this problem that works in concert with standard security alarm equipment to identify authorized personnel and provide instant message alerts when unauthorized individuals attempt to remove tagged laptops or other assets.
The technology, which manages assets with no manual human involvement, can identify a laptop by using a small battery-powered property tag that is attached to the computer, often with an optional anti-tamper circuit that serves as a fail safe measure.
"The growing rate of laptop thefts has reached epidemic proportions and reinforces the need for a security solution at both the governmental and industry level," said Allan Griebenow, president and CEO of Axcess International.
"Axcess' system has been proven to provide the necessary automated protection solution and is easily implemented as it can be integrated into common security systems that are currently installed. This is a comprehensive solution for assets that can be used to help more efficiently protect highly sensitive information."
Organizations are increasingly seeking automated means for protecting the information technology (IT) assets that house vulnerable data including laptops, desktops and digital media tapes. In addition, Congress has five bills in consideration requiring safeguards and prompt notification of potential victims of identity theft, said Axcess International.
"Automated asset management and protection systems are necessary for every organization today," said Walter Darrough, knowledge executive with International Association of IT Asset Managers Inc. (IAITAM).
"Unmanaged, some of the larger costs typically incurred include poor labor utilization, redundant hardware, lease and software penalty fees and most importantly the loss of personal and organizational data."
Axcess' ActiveTag RFID/real time location system (RTLS) and sensing systems use small, reusable battery-powered tags (generically called "dual-active" tags) that when automatically activated, transmit a wireless message typically 30 to 100 feet to hidden palm size receivers.
The receivers are connected via standard network simultaneously to the enterprise system software, the existing security alarm equipment and stand-alone middleware and end-user software provided by Axcess under the OnlineSurpervisor label.
With tags being activated only on-demand and only at control point locations, the system is touted as being highly reliable and accurate with the tags lasting five years or longer depending on the battery being used, said Axcess International.
The Axcess Control Point architecture was found to be more reliable than other local positioning methods using Wi-Fi systems or signal strength measurements, said Axcess International. Its activation-based positioning can determine if an asset has left a secured area down to one foot of accuracy and can also determine its direction. The system alerts responsible personnel on an exception basis, freeing up asset management personnel for other critical tasks.
Axcess introduced a new, low profile high power RFID asset tag measuring only one inch by three inches by a one-quart inch high. It is uniquely capable of reliably tagging solid metal IT assets, a feat typically difficult for wireless tags, said Axcess International.
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The Axcess systems are used for a variety of enterprise productivity applications including automatic personnel access control and tracking, automatic vehicle access control and payload management, automatic asset management and protection, as well as special purpose sensing.
Source: Axcess International Inc.