IDs Require Disaster Recovery Plan

The Growing Threat to Identity Documents

The process of issuing and verifying passports and national ID cards is increasingly under threat from a variety of challenges, including cyberattacks, natural disasters, political unrest, and infrastructure failures. This growing vulnerability has been highlighted in a new whitepaper titled Identity in Crisis: Why Governments Must Build Disaster Recovery Centres for Identity Documents, commissioned by Toppan Security. The report emphasizes the urgent need for governments to take action to ensure that citizens can access their legal identity documents during times of crisis.

Without access to these critical documents, individuals may find themselves unable to access essential services such as healthcare, banking, housing, travel, and emergency assistance. According to Natascha Trivisas, Chief Marketing Officer at Toppan Security, “Legal identity is the key to accessing fundamental rights and services.” She further states that when systems fail, governments must have a resilient fallback plan. “Disaster recovery centres are no longer a luxury—they are a necessity,” she adds.

This message is especially relevant for Africa, which has a large, young, and growing population. However, the region also faces uneven infrastructural development, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in identity services. Trivisas highlights that Africa’s potential as an economic superpower is well-documented, but realizing this potential requires ensuring that every citizen has access to their legal identity, even during crises.

The Case for Disaster Recovery Centres

Disaster recovery centres (DRCs) are specialized facilities designed to maintain identity services when regular government operations are disrupted. The whitepaper outlines a three-tier model for developing DRCs:

• Level 1: Data recovery—secure offsite backups of identity data.
• Level 2: Data recovery and operational capability—basic document issuance functionality in emergencies.
• Level 3: Full business continuity—fully equipped alternate sites with complete service capabilities.

These levels allow governments to scale their preparedness efforts based on risk and available resources, with each level offering increasing resilience and continuity.

Global Examples of Best Practice

Several countries have already implemented effective disaster recovery strategies for identity documents. For example, Barbados has established an offsite DRC to provide uninterrupted identity services during severe weather events. Other nations, such as Kuwait, the UAE, and Ghana, are recognized for their proactive approaches to disaster readiness in the identity space.

Critical Considerations for Implementation

Building effective DRCs requires careful planning and consideration of several factors:

• Location: DRCs must be physically and digitally isolated from primary issuance centres to ensure security and independence.
• Comprehensive services: These facilities should be capable of quickly and securely issuing passports, IDs, and other records.
• Operational preparedness: Governments must develop failover plans, train staff, establish virtual response teams, and implement secure IT systems.
• Public awareness: Clear communication channels and education campaigns are essential to inform citizens about the availability and use of recovery services.

The whitepaper also emphasizes the importance of setting clear recovery point objectives (RPOs) and recovery time objectives (RTOs). These metrics help minimize data loss and downtime during crises, ensuring that identity services can be restored as quickly as possible.

A Call to Action

Global data shows that disasters caused over $2.97 trillion in economic losses between 2000 and 2019, with $2 trillion linked to extreme weather between 2014 and 2023. According to the World Bank and IMF, countries with robust recovery systems recover faster economically and socially.

The findings of the whitepaper indicate that establishing DRCs is a fundamental measure for protecting national security, maintaining public trust, and supporting the social contract between governments and citizens. As the frequency and severity of crises continue to rise, the need for resilient identity infrastructure has never been more urgent.