Physical security systems now generate vast volumes of sensitive data, yet many African organisations still treat video surveillance feeds, access logs and licence plate records as an afterthought in their cybersecurity strategies.
Montreal, Canada-based physical security technology company Genetec has released a set of best practices designed to help organisations safeguard the data produced by their surveillance and access control infrastructure. The guidance comes as Africa contends with some of the fastest-growing cyber threat levels of any region worldwide.
Bridging the physical-cyber security gap
Genetec noted that physical security data has moved beyond simple footage storage. Organisations now rely on it for investigations, compliance reporting and daily operational decisions, making it a high-value target for threat actors.
The company’s recommendations centre on 3 pillars: privacy, resilience and transparency. They include encrypting data in transit and at rest, implementing role-based access controls, conducting regular audits of who accesses security footage, and maintaining clear data retention policies.
A persistent gap in many organisations is the separation between physical security and IT security teams. Genetec stressed that convergence between these functions is essential, particularly as AI-powered surveillance and biometric systems expand across the continent.
Regulatory pressure mounting
The guidance arrives at a time when African governments are tightening data protection enforcement. South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and Kenya’s Data Protection Act are placing organisations under increasing scrutiny over how they collect, store and process personal information, including biometric and surveillance data.
Nigeria has similarly strengthened its data protection framework through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). Organisations that fail to align their physical security systems with these regulations risk both financial penalties and reputational damage.
Board-level concern
Genetec said that aligning privacy, resilience and transparency in physical security is increasingly a board-level issue rather than a purely technical one. As cyberattacks targeting African enterprises continue to rise, the company argued that organisations must treat their physical security infrastructure with the same rigour applied to IT networks.
The firm’s recommendations come amid rapid growth in the African security technology market, driven by urbanisation, smart city initiatives and the proliferation of increasingly sophisticated digital threats.
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