25 Jun 2014

Farmax starts code accreditation

3:33 pm on 25 June 2014

Farm management software provider Farmax has become the first company to begin the Farm Data Code of Practice accreditation process. DairyNZ will administer it.

The code was launched earlier this month to safeguard data and ensure information is stored and shared in the most secure way possible. It is administrated by DairyNZ.

Farmax chief executive Gavin McEwen said the code was in place to make sure companies storing data abided by certain principles.

"We protect the data, we back up the data, we don't allow unauthorised access to people who shouldn't see or have the data, and that we store it in such a way that makes sharing that data simpler and easier."

Signing up to the code was important for his company and he hoped others would follow suit, he said.

"As we move more and more into data storage and cloud-based systems, there is probably in some cases an element of suspicion but a lot of farmers would say that they hope that everything is okay.

"A Code of Practice just goes a step further to make sure companies are following the right process and procedure to protect their data, so hopefully it will give farmers more confidence."

Once a company was accredited it would be audited to make sure it continued to comply, Mr McEwen said.