Data Interface chose KeCrypt to secure Financial Assessments for Cumbria CC.
In mid 2004 Cumbria County Council developed a strategic partnership with the London boroughs of Enfield, Sutton and Lambeth, to provide Social Services Financial Assessment Officers (FAOs) with a mobile electronic financial assessments solution. This was developed under Project Nomad (the National Mobile Working Project) and extended and industrialised a bespoke pilot system developed by the London Borough of Sutton.
Previously, FAOs would assess a client’s financial contribution to their care using manual processes. Information was collected at the client’s home and then, on return to the office, entered into spreadsheets, Word documents and back office systems; finally the data collection form would be filed and a financial assessment letter posted to the client detailing their contribution - if any.
Apart from the time and duplication involved, there was an obvious problem in keeping the paper data secure.
KeCrypt and Project Nomad
The project involved developing an integrated electronic form, for both residential and non-residential care, in which the mathematics were calculated automatically. Data Interface was chosen as the software supplier, using their FASCIA forms installed on Tablet PCs. A Tablet Pen is used to fill in the forms on the Tablet PC, with the FAOs being able to simply write on to the screen in their normal handwriting. A portable printer was also used to print out the assessment letter for the service user.
Security – a key issue
FASCIA is written in C # on a .NET framework; this is a modern programming environment and has many benefits in terms of future sustainability. Security of data was an important issue to the Local Authorities and a key issue for Data Interface. When operating in offline mode (i.e. when mobile), all FASCIA data is encrypted with an advanced 256 bit cipher as used by the US Government to protect sensitive information. When the data is transferred to the office network it is unencrypted and can be accessed by authorised users.
Data Interface wanted to enhance the security issues of mobile use, access control, and document authentication; and reduce the risk of non-compliance with the Data Protection Act compared to paper based processes. KeCrypt KeSignature verification proved to be the simplest, most secure, plug-in option.
Neal Mallett, Commercial Director of Data Interface, said:
“Uniquely in the market, KeCrypt’s advanced signature recognition system is not based on a signature “Template” but instead interprets signatures using advanced mathematical analytics. This provides two main advantages over other systems we have seen, 1) a better rate of signature recognition without compromising security and 2) a more secure method of storing and transporting the individual’s signature recognition file. From a user perspective this means simple initial calibration and reliable yet highly secure FASCIA program access.”
An instant improvement was that FAOs no longer needed to remember yet another password. They now use KeCrypt’s biometric signature verification, built in to FASCIA, to sign on to their application.
When a Lambeth FAO was asked, “Is the information secure, do you need a password?” She replied, “The system actually recognises your handwriting [signature] and that acts as a password to get you into the system. So if you lost the tablet [PC] no one could get into it.”
Biometric signatures ensure 100% Security
Once the assessment has been completed, the FAO can now print it in the client’s home, using the portable printer, and ask the client to sign the assessment on the Tablet PC screen, thereby making a secure electronic record of that signature.
Here again KeCrypt KeSignature adds another level of security. Both the client’s and the FAO’s signature are now stored as dynamic biometrics, and not static images, so neither can be ever be copied or forged.
Sealing FASCIA forms and documents has now become an automated process, and the need for paper outputs and records has been greatly reduced.
Summary
Built on Data Interface’s FASCIA software, the intuitive e-form interface allows the Financial Assessment Officer to complete a Financial Assessment as simply as possible by using menu driven lists and handwriting recognition and signature verification.
The addition of KeCrypt’s Biometric Signature verification makes the processes secure and auditable. Project Nomad has ensured:
- A faster and more efficient service for users
- A 29% time saving on initial assessments (more on re-assessments)
- Reduction in duplication, errors, queries and rework
- Improvement in service user satisfaction
- Improvement in payment times & reduction in bad debts
Sign in as a Guest and view the online Project Nomad Film to see KeCrypt working with Data Interface.
|
