Technology is the future of identity management

1 October 2014 Access Control & Identity Management

Mature technologies can help companies and government agencies by simplifying the process of identity management – and making it more effective.

In today’s large and fluid societies, in which people move frequently and business relationships are increasingly difficult to manage, both private and public sector organisations need ways to identify customers or citizens effectively. This is particularly true as fraud and identity theft reach epidemic proportions, placing institutions at even greater risk.

Nick Perkins, divisional director, identity management solutions, Bytes Systems Integration.
Nick Perkins, divisional director, identity management solutions, Bytes Systems Integration.

Technology is now able to provide the answers to identity verification that is both simpler and more effective, says Nick Perkins, divisional director at Bytes Systems Integration’s identity management division. “Modern identity management technologies are not only more secure, they can be integrated into business processes more readily via automation, thus bringing simplicity and effectiveness together – a winning combination for any organisation,” he says. “Companies and government agencies need to be preparing themselves to take advantage of these technologies as they emerge.”

Perkins says that a significant advance that needs to be integrated into corporate identity management strategies is the projected rollout of the new South African National ID smartcard by the Department of Home Affairs. The department will no doubt be aiming to fast track this rollout, so that private and public sectors can start to leverage this. Not only is the card itself leveraging enhanced security features, the embedded chip also contains the information printed on the face of the card but also additional data such as fingerprints, face image and signatures. This information could be accessed by institutions to perform multi-factor verification by comparing the person present, the information on the card surface and the information on the chip.

“Financial institutions, government agencies and cellular providers are just some of the organisations that would benefit from this level of verification, and they need to start working out how to integrate the new card into their business processes now,” he says.

Getting FICA/RICA down pat

Financial institutions and cellular operators both face increasing pressure from regulators to know who their customers are. The motivation is dual: to protect the financial system from fraud and money laundering, and to help prevent unregistered SIM cards being used in the commission of crimes.

“However, administering FICA and RICA requirements requires certain steps to be followed. There are a number of documents to collect and store, usually paper-based – something that also makes the process vulnerable, especially if documents are scanned and then e-mailed,” Perkins explains. “By digitising the process, companies can not only make it stronger, thus reducing the risk of fraud, but also simpler to administer.”

Perkins says that by combining technology such as scanners, signature pads and card readers, documents can quickly be scanned into the system for easy storage in one place. The use of fingerprint scanners, which are now extremely robust, as our banks have shown, introduces biometrics into the process, making identity verification virtually certain – it’s also possible to link to the Home Affairs National Identification System to verify the fingerprints against those stored against the identity number, as some of the banks already do.

“All of this means that the FICA/RICA information can be easily obtained, and conveniently and cost effectively stored in one place, with much higher levels of certainty,” Perkins says. “Choosing the right technology set for your particular circumstances is obviously part of the solution, but what holds everything together is creating a practical, robust business process that ensures you get the best return on your technology investment.”

For more information contact Lise West, Bytes Systems Integration, +27 (0)11 205 7000, [email protected]





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

The power of PKI and private sector innovation
Access Control & Identity Management News & Events Government and Parastatal (Industry)
At the recent ID4Africa 2025 Summit in Addis Ababa, the spotlight was firmly on building secure, inclusive, and scalable digital identity ecosystems for the African continent.

Read more...
Biometric security key for phishing-resistant MFA
Products & Solutions Access Control & Identity Management
New FIDO-compliant USB, Bluetooth, and NFC BioKeys with biometric login and centralised management for phishing-resistant, passwordless multifactor authentication (MFA) for enterprise users.

Read more...
Gallagher Security releases OneLink
Gallagher Animal Management Products & Solutions Access Control & Identity Management
Gallagher Security has announced OneLink, a cloud-based solution that makes it faster, easier and more cost-effective to deploy security anywhere in the world, transforming how security can be delivered to remote sites and distributed infrastructure.

Read more...
Suprema unveils BioStar Air
Suprema neaMetrics News & Events Access Control & Identity Management Infrastructure
Suprema launches BioStar Air, the first cloud-based access control platform designed to natively support biometric authentication and feature true zero-on-premise architecture. BioStar Air simplifies deployment and scales effortlessly to secure SMBs, multi-branch companies, and mixed-use buildings.

Read more...
Continuous AML risk monitoring
Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management Financial (Industry)
AU10TIX, launched continuous risk monitoring as part of its advanced anti-money laundering (AML) solution, empowering businesses to detect behavioural anomalies and emerging threats as they arise.

Read more...
The future of security: intelligent automation
Access Control & Identity Management AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
As the security landscape evolves, businesses are no longer looking for stand-alone solutions, they want connected, intelligent systems that automate, streamline, and protect.

Read more...
Smart automation is changing security
SA Technologies IntelliGuard Access Control & Identity Management
Security has come a long way from manual check-ins, logbooks, and standalone surveillance cameras. With the rise of intelligent automation, security is now faster, smarter, and more connected than ever.

Read more...
The future of security in South Africa
ATG Digital Access Control & Identity Management
Security technology is evolving rapidly, but is local innovation keeping pace? Some global players recognise the potential of South African products for international markets, but can our manufacturers and service providers thrive without external support?

Read more...
Integration enhances estate access control
Access Control & Identity Management
With one-third of residential burglaries starting at the front door, the continued seamless integration of Glovent’s estate management platform with Impro access control software is welcome news for estates.

Read more...
T&A in South Africa’s retail sector
ERS Biometrics Access Control & Identity Management
Using existing systems, ERSBio provides a practical and more cost-effective way for businesses to manage operations, reduce payroll mistakes, and enhance overall efficiency through innovative T&A processes.

Read more...










While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.