How can companies enhance identity protection programs?
Uncovering the essentials of fortified identity protection programs, this article brings together the wisdom of seasoned experts. It highlights key strategies and technologies that businesses can employ to strengthen their defense against identity theft and fraud. Comprehensive yet concise, the article serves as a practical guide for organizations aiming to safeguard their stakeholders’ digital identities.
- Adopt Decentralized Identity Verification
- Invest in Cybersecurity and Employee Training
- Enhance Security with User-Friendly Measures
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication and EDR
- Treat Identity Protection as Shared Responsibility
- Define Clear Responsibilities for ID Verification
- Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Training
- Use Layered Authentication with AI Monitoring
Adopt Decentralized Identity Verification
If you want to strengthen your company’s identity protection program, you need to rethink how identity is verified and stored. The traditional model (where identity data sits in central databases) creates a single point of failure. Hackers love it. Once breached, thousands or even millions of identities can be stolen in one go.
Decentralized identity changes that. Instead of storing user credentials in a central database, it lets individuals control their own identity data. Credentials are verified by trusted issuers and stored in a way that doesn’t expose them to unnecessary risk. When a user needs to prove something about themselves (like their employment status or age), they present a verifiable credential that can be checked instantly without revealing extra information.
This model reduces risk. It limits the amount of personal data stored by businesses, cutting down their liability and exposure in a breach. It also puts users in control, improving trust and security at the same time.
But adopting decentralized identity isn’t just about switching to a new system. It requires a shift in how verification works. Verification can’t be a one-time event. It needs to happen at every stage.
Too often, businesses authenticate users once and assume they’re safe. But threats evolve. Devices change hands. Accounts get compromised. That’s why continuous verification is key. Instead of relying on outdated credentials, businesses should check identity dynamically, validating credentials when they’re issued, when they’re used, and at key moments in a session.
Verifiable credentials help make this possible. They let businesses confirm identity without storing excess personal data. They also support selective disclosure (so users can prove only what’s necessary). No need to reveal a full ID document when all that’s required is age verification.
Governments and enterprises are already moving toward digital identity adoption. The European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, for example, will let citizens store and share official credentials securely. Banks, travel providers, and healthcare organizations are also exploring decentralized ID to streamline onboarding and reduce fraud.
Identity protection isn’t just about securing databases anymore. It’s about minimizing exposure, verifying at every stage, and adopting solutions that put security and user control first.
Tom Sargent
Head of Marketing, Vidos
Invest in Cybersecurity and Employee Training
The only way to protect identities is to protect privacy overall. To achieve this, companies must invest in their cybersecurity and prioritize keeping their data on their own servers, especially their employee and financial data. However, in a world with so much outsourcing, few companies will take these actions. In addition, ongoing education about social engineering and phishing communications goes further to protect companies than actual hands-on cybersecurity. The majority of breaches come from phishing communications, but when employees are very well trained on how to identify these messages, the risks are mitigated.
Bill Mann
Privacy Expert, Cyber Insider
Enhance Security with User-Friendly Measures
To improve identity protection programs, I recommend focusing on improving user experience while maintaining robust security. At FusionAuth, we’ve implemented “passkeys” as a user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords. Passkeys leverage biometric verification, which not only improves security but also offers a seamless login experience. In our experience, users are more likely to engage with stronger security measures if they are easy to use.
Another effective approach is incorporating decentralized identity solutions into your program. With the rise of blockchain technology, decentralized identity allows users to maintain control over their own information, reducing the risk of centralized data breaches. While this is still an emerging field, it holds great promise in creating more secure, user-centric identity management systems.
Finally, continuous adaptation and proactive engagement with evolving security technologies, such as AI for anomaly detection or Zero Trust architectures, can significantly fortify identity protection programs. By implementing these strategies, companies can not only protect identities but also build greater trust and confidence with their users.
Brian Pontarelli
CEO, FusionAuth
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication and EDR
When it comes to enhancing identity protection programs, leveraging a comprehensive strategy is key. At NetSharx Technology Partners, we prioritize multi-factor authentication (MFA) for securing user identities. This extra layer of verification has been shown in case studies to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access by over 99%.
Implementing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) also plays a critical role. With EDR, we continuously monitor all endpoints—like desktops, laptops, and mobile devices—to detect and respond to threats in real time. We’ve seen clients decrease their incident response times by up to 40% using these solutions.
Finally, integrating Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) into your infrastructure allows for centralized monitoring and analysis of security events. We work with clients to ensure their SIEM systems communicate with existing security measures, providing a comprehensive view of their environment. These steps have helped reduce security costs by 30% while enhancing protection measures.
Ryan Carter
CEO/Founder, NetSharx
Treat Identity Protection as Shared Responsibility
A solid way to improve identity protection is to treat it as a shared responsibility–not just something the IT team handles. Everyone from HR to compliance should be involved.
Start by shifting to a zero-trust model. Don’t just trust someone because they’re on the network–verify every time, and give access based only on what’s actually needed.
MFA should be implemented everywhere. And not just the basic methods–hardware keys or biometrics are far more secure than text messages or app codes.
It also helps to automate onboarding and offboarding processes. Manually adding or removing access is slow and prone to errors. The same applies to conducting regular access reviews–people change roles, leave teams, and sometimes permissions accumulate over time.
Additionally, it’s prudent to use tools that monitor for unusual behavior. These include instances such as someone logging in at odd hours or attempting to access resources they normally wouldn’t.
Don’t neglect the human element–phishing remains one of the biggest threats, so ongoing security awareness training is crucial.
Lastly, pay attention to third-party access as well. Vendors and partners are often overlooked, and that’s where vulnerabilities tend to emerge. Regular audits help mitigate these risks.
Vipul Mehta
Co-Founder & CTO, WeblineGlobal
Define Clear Responsibilities for ID Verification
Companies can enhance identity protection programs by establishing a well-defined recruitment process with clear responsibilities for identity verification. Ensuring that designated personnel are accountable for ID checks helps maintain consistency and compliance. Given the increasing sophistication of fake identities, businesses should partner with a specialist identity verification provider. Advanced technology is essential, as manual checks are no longer sufficient to detect fraudulent documents.
When selecting a provider, consider one that offers not only ID verification but also additional background screening services. This minimizes supplier bloat and streamlines the onboarding process. For UK-based hiring, ensure your provider uses certified Identity Verification Technology (IDVT) to comply with government standards and ensure accuracy.
By integrating these practices, HR teams can strengthen security, reduce risk, and enhance trust in their hiring processes.
William Hoggarth
CEO and Co-Founder, Chexperts Ltd
Conduct Regular Cybersecurity Training
One strategy that companies can implement to mitigate the risks of spear-phishing attacks aimed at specific individuals or departments is to conduct regular and comprehensive training on cybersecurity best practices.
By educating employees on the dangers of spear-phishing attacks and providing them with the knowledge and tools to identify and report suspicious emails, companies can empower their workforce to be the first line of defense against such attacks.
Note: This training should include guidelines on how to spot phishing emails, how to verify the authenticity of email senders, and how to handle suspicious attachments or links. Furthermore, companies should regularly update their employees on the latest phishing techniques and tactics to ensure that they are equipped to recognize and respond effectively to evolving threats.
Michael Gargiulo
Founder, CEO, VPN.com
Use Layered Authentication with AI Monitoring
I learned the power of layered authentication when our app faced several identity breach attempts last year. As a result, we implemented AI monitoring that spots unusual login patterns and automatically triggers additional verification steps. From my experience running FuseBase, I’ve found that combining this approach with regular security audits and employee training has reduced our identity theft incidents by nearly 85%.
