Genetec Outlines Data Privacy Best Practices Ahead of Data Protection Day

Why It Matters

Physical‑security data often contains highly sensitive personal information, making its protection critical for regulatory compliance and public trust. Implementing Genetec’s recommendations helps organizations mitigate privacy risks, reduce exposure to cyber attacks, and ensure transparent, responsible data handling in an increasingly data‑driven security landscape.

Genetec Outlines Data Privacy Best Practices ahead of Data Protection Day

insideAI News

MONTRÉAL, January 26, 2026 – To support Data Protection Day, Genetec Inc., an enterprise physical‑security software company, is sharing best practices to help organizations protect sensitive physical‑security data while maintaining effective security operations.

Physical security systems generate large volumes of information from video footage, access‑control records, and license‑plate information. As this data plays a growing role in daily operations and investigations, organizations are under increasing pressure to manage it responsibly amid evolving privacy regulations, rising cyber threats, and heightened expectations around transparency.

“Physical security data can be highly sensitive, and protecting it requires more than basic safeguards or vague assurances,” said Mathieu Chevalier, Principal Security Architect at Genetec Inc. “Some approaches in the market treat data as an asset to be exploited or shared beyond its original purpose. That creates real privacy risks. Organizations should expect clear limits on how their data is used, strong controls throughout its lifecycle, and technology that is designed to respect privacy by default, not as an afterthought.”

Observed annually on January 28, International Data Protection Day serves as a reminder that protecting personal data is a shared and ongoing responsibility. For physical‑security teams, adopting clear strategies, resilient technologies, and trusted partnerships can help ensure privacy and security objectives remain aligned as risks and regulations continue to change. Genetec recommends the following best practices to help organizations strengthen data protection across physical‑security systems:

• Assess data collection and handling – Regularly evaluate what data is collected, why it is collected, where it is stored, how long it is retained, and who has access. Documenting these practices reduces unnecessary exposure, identifies policy gaps, and supports ongoing compliance.

• Apply privacy‑by‑design – Limit privacy risk through both security controls and governance. Use purpose limitation and data‑minimization principles so only data required for defined security objectives is collected and retained. Implement strong security measures such as encryption (in transit and at rest), strong authentication, and granular access controls. Deploy privacy‑enhancing technologies (e.g., automated anonymization and masking) to protect individuals’ identities while preserving operational value.

• Maintain continuous protection – Conduct regular system hardening, vulnerability management, and timely updates to address emerging cybersecurity risks. Treat privacy and cybersecurity as continuous operational responsibilities to sustain a stronger overall security posture.

• Leverage cloud‑managed and SaaS deployments – These can keep security patches, privacy controls, and compliance features up‑to‑date while reducing the operational burden on internal teams. Flexible deployment models allow organizations to balance scalability, control, and data‑residency requirements across on‑premises and cloud environments.

• Partner with trusted vendors – Evaluate technology partners based on how they govern personal data, define clear limits on data use, and communicate transparently about privacy practices. Independent security standards and attestations (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27017, SOC 2 Type II) provide assurance about system and data protection. Also assess vendors’ vulnerability‑disclosure processes, data‑governance practices, and AI development approaches, ensuring they prioritize transparency, safety, and human‑led decision‑making when personal data is involved.

For best practices on building a data‑protection strategy for physical‑security systems, visit: https://www.genetec.com/trust-cybersecurity