Top 5 Qualities to Look for in Your Identity Protection Provider

Identity theft is America’s fastest-growing crime, so it’s no surprise that identity and privacy protection is the number-one voluntary benefit for employees. HR professionals are responding to the demand—70% of companies know that protecting employees from identity theft is a sound business decision.

As you search for the best identity theft protection benefit, however, it’s crucial to remember that the offering is only as good as the company behind it. Consider the following essential qualities to look for when selecting the ideal benefit for your employees:

1. Understanding today’s identity and privacy risks: From social media to the deep and dark web, your employees’ identities are out in the open, highly vulnerable to theft and fraud. In fact, there are nine types of identity crime, including child, medical, employment, and synthetic. The best providers offer products and services that help protect your employees against all these forms of identity theft and fraud.
2. Experience and reputation: A provider’s business clients are an excellent yardstick for assessing the company’s credentials. It’s important to ask questions like:
   • What industries does the provider serve? Look for experience across a broad spectrum of sectors.
   • How long have the clients worked with the provider? Long-term client relationships are built on trust and a strong commitment to service.
   • Has the client been awarded government contracts? This indicates that the identity protection offering is built to meet the highest of security clearances required by government agencies—which means optimal protection for your employees.
3. Focus: For many providers, identity theft protection is only one line of business among many, so interests and resources are spread thin. A pure-play privacy company is committed to continually improving products and services that help your employees stay ahead of advancing identity and privacy threats. This may include investing in software enhancements so users have a faster, more secure, and intuitive experience.
4. Commitment: A good provider views identity and privacy protection as a mission, not just a business. They conduct original research that reveals consumer attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors toward identity and privacy risks. These insights help the provider better educate their customers and the public on how to protect their digital identities. And company leaders raise awareness about critical issues, such as the privacy risks consumers face on social media.
5. Service: You’re busy with a million other tasks, so finding a provider who makes the implementation process as easy and hassle-free as possible is important. They should give you the roll-out plan and tools needed to communicate with your employees shortly after signing the contract. The ideal provider also offers concierge-style recovery for victims, so your employees have peace of mind and can stay focused on their job. In addition, look for a provider whose benefit isn’t tied to open enrollment, so you can offer valuable identity and privacy protection at any time of the year.

HR to the Rescue White Paper: Download Now

About 50 to 60 companies offer identity theft protection, but only a very few have the qualities that make for an ideal benefits provider. Evaluating the company as well as their benefits offering can help ensure that you’re providing your employees with the best defense against growing identity and privacy risks.

Download the HR to the Rescue white paper to learn how HR professionals can help defend their employees’ privacy and identity.