Quick Tips to Businesses for the Prevention of Identity Theft

It is imperative that business owner or operators start to implement improved information handling. The following steps can help you better handle personal information in the workplace so that it does not get into the hands of identity thieves.

Acquiring the Information
Do you really need the information? If you don't need the information then don't ask for it. If you do then make sure you are acquiring it in a safe and secure manner so that an identity thief cannot get the information as it is being acquired..
Information Storage
Implement security measures on the computer or computers that the information is stored on or has access to the data via a network. The computer network and data should be considered as classified information and only available to the strict minimum amount of people who need access to the data. Make sure that an identity thief cannot access this information from a common computer.
Information Access
Keep a log of who has access to the information and remove the access codes to those who no longer need access to the private information. If you employ temps then restrict the access to only what they need and delete the access when their work is completed. Identity thieves have been known to infiltrate companies through temp agencies to copy personal, financial and private information.
Information Distribution
Take a look at how information travels through your enterprise. Make sure an identity thief cannot access the information as it travels from point A to point B.
Information Disposal
All paper documents containing personal information should be shredded properly prior to disposal. Shredders that cut the documents into long thin strips are not suitable. Identity thieves frequently reassemble shredded documents that were not shredded properly. Electronic documents also need to be destroyed when no longer needed. Don't forget the backups. By the way, are the backups of personal information secured properly so that an identity thief cannot have access to them?

Securing personal information including SSN in the workplace needs to become a priority. Identity theft can happen in the blink of an eye anywhere in between the acquisition of said information to its disposal. It is your responsibility to do whatever it takes to prevent identity theft in your business.

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