FASEA remote exam provider refutes security concerns

The comments come following concerns from dealer groups and industry associations that the possible susceptibility of the ProctorU software to hacking could pose a problem with the tight security controls mandated by large institutions.

However responding to issues raised in ifa’s report, ProctorU chief executive Scott McFarland said such concerns were “not accurate” and that the company was “at the forefront of setting security and privacy standards” in the remote learning sector.

“For example, ProctorU does not use commercial video conferencing software such as Zoom or GoToMeeting or Google Meet,” Mr McFarland said. 

“We use our own secure, proprietary proctoring and communications platform and because of that, ProctorU systems or data have never been compromised. 

“Our security programs are audited annually, and we adhere to all international and federal, state and local privacy and data security laws.

“Information is kept only long enough to make sure that a test-taker did not violate testing rules.”

Mr McFarland said the company could not discuss specific security features of the software in order “to maintain the highest security”, but said that “the testing authorities that rely on ProctorU can and do regularly review them”.

He said ProctorU had not come up against issues previously with the software conflicting with the security protocols of major companies, and that the group was “always happy to work with companies and institutions on their specific needs”.

Responding to further reports of problems with connectivity and the processes of individual proctors, Mr McFarland echoed FASEA’s advice that 98 per cent of candidates were typically able to sit an exam successfully through ProctorU.

“Some have hardware or connection issues that require them to reschedule,” he said. 

“As you can expect, most of these issues are connectivity issues related to their general internet connection. 

“About 6 per cent of all test-takers encounter some technical issue that requires an intervention by our support specialists, and most of those issues are resolved prior to their exam, which results in the 98 per cent completion rate.”