Authentication Solutions

In recent years there has been a vast increase in counterfeiting all over the world, with an ever-growing range of products being targeted. Counterfeiting in areas such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices is not only a threat to a company, but it is also a significant risk to public health and safety.

To combat this problem, Systech’s innovative authentication technology e-Fingerprint™ provides manufacturers with a more secure, scalable and cost-effective way to protect their brands and ensure consumer safety.

Anti-counterfeiting authentication technology

e-Fingerprint technology starts with the printing of a data carrier. During the dynamic printing process, environmental and input factors combine to create small-scale variations or ‘noise’ in the printed data carrier. These variations are both random and unique. The e-Fingerprint solution functions by detecting specific measurable characteristic patterns within this printing noise, connecting these variations to produce a covert security feature.

There are three distinct components to the e-Fingerprint solution:

• Acquisition. The acquisition process influences existing packaging line infrastructure with the image of the data carrier being captured by a common vision system readily found on packaging lines. The data carrier image is then analysed, the e-Fingerprint signature extracted and the original image is rid of
• Storage. Once extracted, the e-Fingerprint signature is sent as code and stored in Systech’s secure cloud-based repository where it remains until it is referenced for authentication
• Authentication. The e-Fingerprint solution uses a simple smartphone application to authenticate. Similar to the process on the packaging line, the smartphone captures the data carrier image, extracts the e-Fingerprint and sends it to a repository where it is cross-referenced against the original. The verification results are returned to the investigator straight away, and the product is verified as authentic or counterfeit

Authentication technologies differentiators

Most authentication technologies are additive, in sense that the application is based on introducing an element into existing packaging, such as a special material, ink or an embedded algorithm. This customisation often makes these technologies expensive to use and are often unfeasible to authenticate.

e-Fingerprint is different to other anti-counterfeit solutions in the market, in that it is derivative rather than an additive. This aspect of the technology offers distinct advantages over other authentication solutions, mainly effectiveness, economy and scalability.

• Effectiveness. With the e-Fingerprint solution based on capturing variation rather than embedding or producing a security measure, there is nothing engineered. Thus, nothing for counterfeiters to reverse engineer, meaning the e-Fingerprint solution cannot be counterfeited through traditional methods
• Economy. The e-Fingerprint solution offers economy, both in acquisition and authentication processes, allowing it to deliver robust authentication at a much less expensive rate than alternative solutions
• Acquisition. The additive nature of most product authentication solutions means that they will need the reengineering of processes and the introduction of expensive proprietary materials. Dissimilar to other technologies, the e-Fingerprint solution leverages the existing packaging infrastructure, meaning no business process re-engineering or addition of new materials
• Authentication. Unlike other methods of covert-product authentication, e-Fingerprint verifies without the need for special expensive readers
• Scalability. By using smart phones to authenticate, the e-Fingerprint solution allows scalable verification anytime, anywhere. Brand owners have control of who has access to the authentication service and can extend this access outside to multiple external parties within the supply chain, such as government officials, customs agents, resellers and even end-consumers

e-Fingerprint is the ideal brand protection and authentication solution for manufacturers anywhere around the world.