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Visiting PoPI, improved training

Gary Chalmers, CEO of local biometric manufacturer, iPulse, spoke to Hi-Tech Security Solutions and gave us his take on what issues will be top of mind for the industry in 2014.

Gary Chalmers.

Chalmers says the biggest impact on this industry in 2014 will be PoPI (The Protection of Personal Information Act).

“It’s going to change everything about how we store information about people, across the board from CCTV to guard books to access control systems. Databases now have to be secured, which most aren’t, and paper-based guard books are a thing of the past.”

PoPI is different from other legislation in that not only are companies liable for transgressions, but directors can also be prosecuted and fined or jailed. Chalmers adds that PoPI is not merely about how companies go about recording personal information, but about the full information lifecycle. It starts with gaining consent from the people you’re collecting information from, explaining why you need the information. Furthermore, it deals with how the information is stored used and destroyed.

To make matters worse, an organisation needs to keep the information they have on anyone up to date, and any individual can ask for the information you have about them. It’s also an offence to lose data.

Chalmers adds that PoPI will also have a significant impact on companies using biometrics for access or time and attendance. A fingerprint is, after all, personal information.

Fixing the holes

One of the areas that will see significant growth in the coming year is visitor management. Chalmers says that while most South African companies run their access control systems for employees quite well, they tend to override their own rules for visitors. This creates a vulnerability that compromises security. In 2014 we should see more companies improving their visitor management systems to close the gaps in their security. However, this will have to be done with the PoPI regulations in mind.

When asked for one personal wish he had for the industry, Chalmers said he would like to see “some measure of training/certification body concentrating on building skills rather than generating membership fees”. He echoes the thoughts of many industry players who want effective regulations that are enforced in the security industry. Unfortunately, as was noted repeatedly during the recent SIA Conference, it does not seem likely to happen in the current opaque political environment.

The problem of a lack of enforced regulations (there is no lack of regulations, they are just not enforced) in the industry and certifications for security personnel is exacerbated by the number of ‘cowboys’ who operate outside of the rules and give everyone a bad name. Currently around 30% of installation are handled by companies in the ‘bakkie brigade’ category, making it a large and lucrative, yet unregulated market.

The solution to this problem is, of course, not only regulations, but buy-in from all parties, including customers who need to look beyond the cheapest price and ensure their service providers are above board, registered and certified.

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