3 steps to POPIA complianceThe African Union's Convention on Cyber Security and Data Protection (known as the Malabo Convention) outlines principles which urge all AU member states to respect and protect individuals' rights to privacy online and offline. © tumsasedgars – 123RF.com Multiple member states have already ratified the Malabo convention or put in place data protection laws and South Africa has become the latest African country to legislate the protection of personal information, with the country’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa that came into effect on 1 July 2020. Along with countries including Kenya, Botswana and Nigeria, South African organisations must now move to comply with new regulations to protect identifying and personal information it collects, stores and manages. Global best practice in the protection of personal information will become increasingly important as pan-African trade picks up, and as African countries seek to boost exports internationally. However, compliance with pan-African and global data privacy, security laws and regulations can be a daunting task for any organisation. Especially since requirements are often vague and ambiguous, with little specific guidance as to how to achieve compliance. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Sophos, only 34% of South African organisations are reportedly ready to comply with POPIA. So where should you begin? Here are three simple steps to help you get started:
Requirements around data protection can seem tedious, but they provide the foundation for trust in the digital environment and there are plenty of resources to assist with training around POPIA, GDPR and other privacy and cybersecurity content. |