POPIA and professional service firms

Most professional service firms process personal information as a matter of course — client identity documents, financial records, medical information or contract details — which brings POPIA obligations into play.

Firms should have a clear basis for processing personal information, reasonable security safeguards in place, and a process for responding to data subject requests and breaches.

A data breach involving client personal information can trigger both regulatory exposure and a Professional Indemnity or Cyber Liability claim, depending on how the breach occurred and what advice or service was involved.

Reviewing your data handling practices alongside your insurance cover — rather than treating them as separate issues — gives a more complete picture of your risk.