Identity theft is becoming a more common crime, with someone becoming a victim almost every minute. In hindsight, research suggests that about 30-50% of identity theft cases originate from the workplace.
This shows how important protection against identity theft is at the workplace with employers and employees having their own role to ensure the safety of every identity in their organizations.
Most cases of identity theft originating from the workplace are only possible due to inadequate security measures, this can be avoided by cultivating proper security practices in the workplace.
Contents
1. Conduct Strict Background Checks
Strict and stringent background checks must be conducted on individuals that will be authorized to access personal information of employees.
Proper and regulated access control has to be levied to protect sensitive employee information. Failure to achieve this can result in leak of employee information to bad actors, effectively equipping them with tools to harm your employees and co-workers.
2. Develop Security Focused Policies
Develop and roll out company policies that address the proper handling of sensitive information within the organization.
Policies that target laxed security practices should be drawn and strictly enforced to holistically drive up your organization’s security awareness. This will go a long way in preventing personal information breaches and combating identity theft in the workplace.
3. Discourage the Display of SSN on IDs and Insurance Cards
Develop policies that will eradicate or prevent the addition of social security numbers (SSN) on employees’ identity cards (IDs) and insurance cards.
SSNs are by far the most useful tool for identity theft by bad actors, and the display of these numbers isn’t advisable as they can easily be captured and stolen should you or your employees lose these carriables.
4. Sensitize Employees On Company’s Privacy Policy
Inform your staff and employees about the company’s privacy policy and procedures to drive home the significance and importance of safeguarding personal data.
A company-wide sensitisation on the dangers of poor data security practice and company’s policy regarding such practices will boost awareness and make your employees more security conscious.
5. Proper Storage of Employees Personal Info
Endeavor to securely store the personal information of your employees. Utilize strict security measures for your storage locations, additional security measures can include door access control systems that feature biometric or card access control.
However, if you choose to store these information on your computer or storage drive, ensure to password protect your them. These passwords should be regularly changed.
6. Disallow Storage of Sensitive Information on PCs and Mobile Devices
Do not allow sensitive personal information to be stored on personal computers and mobile devices that could be stolen or lost. Lost or stolen devices have caused some pretty devastating data breaches in the past.
7. Proper Disposal of Company Documents
Ensure that you and your employees properly dispose of documents that contain confidential information, especially those that feature employees’ social security numbers.
This can be achieved by acquiring paper shredders that will completely destroy your paper documents rather than just throwing them in the dumpster.
Many in the workplace are not aware of the danger of poor information security practices. Basic security awareness will go a long way in combating the fast growing criminal activity in the workplace.
Make sure to follow the discussed security tips, and reduce your workplace’s exposure to identity theft.