Frequently Asked Questions

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General FAQs

Secure Citizen, co-owned by the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS), stands at the forefront of digital identity verification solutions in South Africa. The company offers a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to enable businesses to verify customer identities, including verifiable credentials, biometric verification, document validation, and more. These solutions are essential for safeguarding businesses from fraud and identity theft. By integrating Secure Citizen's tools, businesses can ensure secure and efficient identity verification, comply with regulatory requirements, and enhance overall customer trust and operational efficiency.

Secure Citizen solutions can make a difference across multiple industries, including FinTech, Retail, Financial Services,  Payment Providers, Microfinance and more. The Secure Citizen model is scalable and can be used by any size of business, from SMEs to corporates.

Secure Citizen in action - everyday examples:

  • In store/branch:
  • Application processing
  • Collection of goods/lay-bys
  • Account management
  • Point of sale (POS) payments
  • Verification of transactions/account management (POS)
  • Access management (secure buildings, lockers, etc.)
  • Documenting of foreign nationals
  • Employee/contractor/supplier onboarding

Secure Citizen distinguishes itself in the identity verification landscape with several key features.

  • Advanced technology: Verifiable Credential powered
  • Interoperable, platform-agnostic
  • Self-service tools and digital wallet integration
  • Comprehensive South African digital verification database
  • User-Friendly APIs for easy implementation
    • Scalable for businesses of all sizes
    • Cost effective

Yes. We always ensure that consumers have given consent before we process their data (consent management). This way, all Secure Citizen-empowered businesses know that their consumer interactions will be compliant. This helps reassure customers, position the business as a good corporate citizen, and avoid liability for data breaches. Additionally, this is backed up by comprehensive audit trail functionality.

Our data is securely stored in the cloud, hosted locally within South Africa. We use the world-class Microsoft Azure platform.

Secure Citizen is designed for flexible and seamless integration with a wide range of existing business systems:

  1. Versatile Integration: The solution adapts to your specific operational requirements, ensuring maximum efficiency.
  2. API-Driven Approach: Secure Citizen provides a set of specialized APIs that can be easily integrated into your backend and legacy systems.
  3. Multiple System Support: The platform seamlessly integrates with various systems, including:
    • Mobile apps
    • Websites
    • USSD services
    • Kiosks
    • Point-of-sale (POS) systems and tills
    • Backend databases and CRM systems
  4. Minimal Disruption: Implementation is designed to be smooth, allowing you to enhance your identity verification and security processes without disrupting existing workflows.
  5. Scalability: Whether you're a small business or a large corporation, Secure Citizen's integration capabilities can scale to meet your needs.
  6. Customization: APIs can be tailored to fit your specific business processes, regulatory requirements, and risk management strategies.
  7. Technical Support: Our team provides assistance throughout the integration process to ensure a successful implementation.

How to get started

Book your demo today and unlock seamless, secure verification.

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Digital Credential FAQs

Secure Citizen actively maintains the validity and integrity of Verifiable Credentials through several key steps. The organization consistently updates its security protocols and conducts thorough verification of issuer authority. Additionally, it closely monitors the revocation status of Verifiable Credentials. The responsibility for maintaining credential validity rests with the issuers, who must adhere to rigorous governance frameworks for credential management. For example, if a store account is closed, the issuer initiates a revocation to nullify the credential. When a verifier subsequently requests information from this credential and queries the Verifiable Data Registry (VDR), they will be informed that the credential has been revoked.
Regulatory considerations for Digital Credentials include compliance with data protection laws such as GDPR and POPIA, ensuring that personal data is handled securely and privacy is maintained. It's also important to adhere to specific sector regulations related to the issuance and use of digital credentials.

During the implementation of Verifiable Credentials, comprehensive support is available to ensure smooth integration and adoption. This includes:

 

  • Technical assistance for system integration
  • Training programs for users on managing and using VCs
  • Customer service support for troubleshooting and queries
  • Documentation and resources for self-help
  • This multi-faceted support system helps businesses and individuals effectively implement and utilize Verifiable Credentials in their operations.

Issuers of Verifiable Credentials (VCs) are trustworthy because they adhere to strict standards and regulations set by organisations like the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). They must comply with national and international laws on data protection and identity verification. This governance framework ensures that only reputable organisations can issue credentials, maintaining the integrity and reliability of the system.

Verifiable Credentials are designed to comply with privacy laws such as GDPR and POPIA. They empower individuals to manage their personal data, incorporating consent mechanisms and adhering to the principle of data minimisation. Importantly, no personally identifiable information is stored on the blockchain, ensuring that users maintain control over their 'right to be forgotten'.

Minimal tech skills are needed to use Verifiable Credentials (VCs), thanks to user-friendly interfaces. The infrastructure requirements are low, as VCs seamlessly integrate with existing systems via simple APIs and digital interfaces. This interoperability allows for easy adoption across various sectors, making VCs accessible to a broad range of users and businesses.

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