Cypress And UPEK Partner On Biometric Security Reference Design

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and UPEK®, Inc. today introduced a reference design for USB Flash Drives (UFDs) protected by fingerprint authentication technology, delivering the industry's strongest security by authenticating users on the UFD system instead of on a PC. The new CY4665 reference design uses UPEK's TouchStrip™ Fingerprint Authentication Solution along with Cypress's EZ-USB™ NX2LP-Flex USB controller to address the growing need from corporate IT managers to allow enterprise data to be portable and accessible offline while keeping sensitive data secure.

With the UFD reference design from Cypress and UPEK, manufacturers of UFDs and peripheral suppliers can add convenient biometric security that allows only those who register their fingerprints to access data on the drives with the swipe of a finger. The reference design features hardware-based authentication for the strongest data and privacy protection available, while enabling complete mobility across devices and multiple operating systems. All fingerprint matching functions (template extraction, storage and matching) are conducted in a dedicated UPEK security processor on the drive, providing the convenience of true portability and protection from PC security risks. The CY4665 is bundled with UPEK's industry-leading Protector Suiteâ„¢ Token application software, which simplifies access to data, applications and websites. The software includes a password bank for securely registering and accessing user login and password-protected websites and applications. The end-to-end solution ensures plug-and-play ease of use and eliminates the need to download software on a host PC.

"Data on USB Flash Drives is vulnerable when taken outside the security of the office environment and can be easily lost or stolen," said Matt Branda, marketing manager for Cypress's High Speed Peripherals Business Unit. "The CY4665 Cypress/UPEK reference design's flexibility and performance make it easy to design UFDs that are extremely secure while still being convenient to access."

"Manufacturers of USB flash drives, hard disk drives (HDDs) and other portable storage devices are turning to UPEK's complete hardware-based fingerprint solution for the highest level of biometric security and convenience available today," said Vito Fabbrizio, Director of Portable Storage Solutions for UPEK, Inc. "The industry-leading USB technology that Cypress brings to the CY4665 reference design helps deliver this superior security without sacrificing ease-of-use."

The UPEK/Cypress CY4665 reference design offers a complete turnkey solution including hardware, software and plastic design to enable fast time-to-market and reduced integration costs for UFD manufacturers and peripheral suppliers. The reference design includes a field-proven integrated UPEK enrollment tutorial that makes fingerprint authentication simple to use for first time users. This results in a satisfying end user experience and greater usability, leading to fewer support calls and improved customer satisfaction.

By Cypress