What to Know About the POPI Act in South Africa

The POPI Act has become a major concern for every business that uses data. Organisations across the country are required to ensure compliance according to the regulations set by this act. With GDPR also regulating data across the world, this act is especially important to businesses who are on the cloud. The act applies to individuals as well as businesses, NGOs and any other type of organisation that requires the collection of consumer data. 

You should have already begun to prepare for the POPI Act. If you have not, it is essential to start preparing as soon as possible. Some parts of the act have been enforced in July 2020, with the remaining parts to be in effect from July 2021. Failure to comply can lead to hefty fines and other penalties that most businesses can afford. 

Why is the POPI Act Important

The South African POPI Act (Protection of Personal Information Act) has been implemented for several years, officially coming into play on 1 July 2020. Final parts of the act will be enforced from 1 July 2021, giving companies just a few more months to be fully compliant. 

Why is this act so important when it comes to privacy, data and the cloud? For starters, POPIA plays a crucial role in the protection of consumer privacy rights. Consumers will have far more control over the information they choose to provide to businesses. The act also means that all consumer data is protected however it is stored, sent or processed. In the case of the cloud, this is a big concern, meaning that data storage locations will need to be transparent and tracked. One of the primary goals of the act is to protect the right to privacy that is set within South Africa’s constitution. Along with global acts such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) set forth in the EU that has an impact on businesses across the world, this act is essentially about maintaining privacy rights. 

As online technologies have evolved, privacy and data are no longer a straight-forward thing. Data is no longer solely stored on-site, with more companies adapting to the cloud than ever before. With this continued growth comes the need to bring data laws up to date with newer technologies so that consumers are fully protected. While it is no doubt a complex law that will greatly affect the way that companies store and manage consumer data, we are here to help make the process easier. 

The first step to ensure that your cloud solutions and your online practices are compliant with the POPI Act is to choose your cloud partner and platforms very carefully. At iSSC, as an accredited Gold Microsoft Partner, we are committed to helping our clients make the move to the cloud simple, in a way that provides complete data security at all times. Microsoft has made it easier for all parties to be compliant, including end-users. Contact us today to find out how our trusted cloud solutions help to ensure POPI Act compliance.