Identity verification is a running theme in entertainment culture, from Little Red Riding Hood's failed attempts at authenticating her grandmother to movies about famous forgers, as in "Catch Me If You Can." What about the anonymity of the X-men or protecting Bruce Wayne and Peter Parker's alter egos? We seem to be slightly obsessed with identity.
That's because life inspires art. Identity protection and verification aren't limited to books, comics, and movies. It is an essential element of living in this digital age.
Money laundering. Tax fraud. False medical claims. These are a few of the numerous reasons why identity verification is crucial.
Join us as we explore the importance of identity and access management ahead of International Identity Day 2024.
The Significance of International Identity Day
International Identity Day has been observed annually on the 16 of September (9/16) since 2018. The day is named after UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which calls for providing legal identity, including birth registration, to all individuals by 2030. (id-day.org/)
Why it's important to dedicate an international day to "legal identities for all."
Inclusion
An estimated 850 million people do not have proof of identity, without which they may not obtain employment, open a bank account, or access credit. They often can't access services like healthcare, education, employment, and government benefits.
Several factors contribute to why so many people lack identification, such as:
Limited or no infrastructure in rural areas.
Time-consuming, complex procedures requiring multiple visits to government facilities make it impractical and infeasible.
High costs that are unobtainable for those on or below the breadline.
Marginalisation or discrimination towards certain groups, such as minorities and women in some countries.
Ignorance. Some groups are uneducated or have never been informed of the importance of identification and its benefits.
Identify Day aims to raise awareness so we can mobilise and ensure no one is left behind.
Protection
Identity Day also serves as a reminder to people with proof of identification to secure their identity and personal information from theft. It reiterates the fact that identity protection is a continual exercise.
It takes an average of 200 hours and 6 months for an identity theft victim to resolve the issue. (Federal Trade Commission, FTC)
Empowerment
Everyone should be educated on the advantages of having proof of identity and empowered on how to reap the maximum benefits from such.
That entails knowing how one's identity can facilitate everyday life (such as access to social grants or healthcare) and enable greater opportunities (through employment and travel).
Why Need To Positively Identify People
Identity verification confirms that someone is who they claim to be. It is critical to ensuring security, trust, and compliance. It also authenticates the legitimacy of interactions in various domains such as business, finance, and governmental operations.
Prevent Fraud and Identity Theft
Criminals may use your personal information to impersonate you to steal from you. This is called identity theft. They can use your identity to open accounts and take out loans in your name. They get the money, and you're liable for the repayments!
Other criminals may pretend to be someone else to get you to hand over money or information. This falls under the banner of phishing and social engineering.
They could pretend to be from the bank and get to confirm and hand over personal information so they can then pretend to be you and access your bank account.
Sometimes they pretend to be from a creditor and force you to make payment into their bank account.
Others pretend to sell something incredible, like timeshare or an unbelievably low-priced car. They disappear into the sunset with your hard-earned cash.
These are some reasons why protecting your personal information is imperative and why laws like POPIA, the Protection of Personal Information Act, exist. Stay vigilant and scrutinise anyone asking for details. You have every right to demand that they are who they say they are.
Businesses lose billions annually from fraudulent activities. It is why companies like banks will go through so much effort to authenticate you whenever you interact. Businesses need to protect you and their operations.
The South African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) reported a 337% increase in impersonation fraud cases from 2020 to 2022.
Enhanced Access Control and Security
Identity verification is critical to enhancing security at access points, including work premises, events, and borders. Positive ID validation ensures that only authorised persons enter particular areas. The purpose is to protect people and property from threats such as theft, data breaches, or even physical harm.
Whether physical or digital, having robust identity and access management in place is a proven, powerful deterrent.
Building Trust and Providing a Positive Customer Experience
Customers appreciate and trust a business that protects their identity and personal data. People are more likely to engage with a business that prioritises safety. In this way, a business can build trust with existing and potential customers.
Conversely, data leaks have closed companies down as they could not recover from the financial and reputational loss.
A streamlined identity verification process can take customer experience to another level. Not only are customers comforted knowing their information is secure, but doing business is a pleasure because the authentication process is fast and painless.
In 2022, South Africa ranked 5th globally for the highest number of cybercrime victims per million internet users. (ITWeb)
Personalised Service
Businesses with identity-enabled service delivery have an added competitive advantage. They can offer hyper-personalised experiences from a simple personalised greeting at the gate to effortless sign-in at reception with your host ready and waiting as they received a notification when you arrived.
In the digital realm, customers can access services and exclusive offers tailored to their preferences based on past behaviours.
Regulatory Compliance
POPIA regulations apply to all South African entities, and some may also be subject to international data privacy and protection laws, such as GDPR, depending on the information they are processing.
Specific industries are subject to additional identity verification obligations. Financial Service Providers (FSPs) are legally required to perform several due diligence checks under Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
Effective identity verification helps such businesses to:
Maintain legal compliance, and avoid hefty penalties and fines.
Foster a culture of accountability and transparency, strengthening stakeholder relations.
Identify and mitigate risks.
Seriously, who goes there? Advanced Access Control to Authenticate & Authorise
The era of armoured knights and a massive drawbridge has ebbed, but the need for robust identity verification and access control solutions remains. Thankfully, ATG Digital's systems leapfrog businesses and estate access management into the future.
Seamless Integration and Enhanced Security
ATG Digital's solutions integrate with other systems seamlessly so businesses can add additional security layers to their existing infrastructure, namely:
ID Validation: Authenticate various forms of identification, including driver's licenses, passports, and visitor pre-registration data. Only authorised individuals gain access.
Real-Time Verification: The system flags unauthorised, suspicious, and blacklisted individuals and vehicles in real time. It sends immediate alerts to security and law enforcement if need be.
POPIA Compliance: ATG Digital's solutions are POPIA compliant and have built-in measures to enforce POPIA policies.
Comprehensive Tracking and Monitoring: Know who is on the property, for how long, and where they went. The system maintains a comprehensive record sent invitations and granted privileges for complete accountability on all fronts. Set parameters to restrict access to sensitive areas based on seniority or security clearance. Get alerts when individuals or vehicles have been on the premises too long.
Streamlined Registration and Visitor Management: Fast and efficient identity verification processes lead to a positive customer experience. Visitors spend less time waiting, and operations thrive.
Smart access control systems, visitor management, and asset tracking technology are yours in a few clicks. Start the journey today https://www.atgdigital.biz/contact-us, 010 500 8611
Comments