Consumer Data Privacy Protection: How to Maintain Trust

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes

According to Google, the amount of data on the internet will reach 182 zettabytes this year.

Consumers generate lots of data whenever they access the internet, even when they don’t. Home addresses, health records, identification photos, and Social Security numbers (or National Identification numbers for individuals outside the United States) are all pieces of identity data. And, in today’s hyper-digital world, consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of safeguarding their sensitive information – and they expect organizations they engage with to do the same.

So, how can businesses like yours meet this expectation?

This week is Data Privacy Week (hosted by the National Cybersecurity Alliance) and Identity Theft Awareness Week (hosted by the Federal Trade Commission) – which is the perfect opportunity for brands to share tips and resources to help consumers protect their identity data from prying eyes.

Let’s explore practical tips you can share with your customers and how Iris’ new digital solution can help you secure your customers’ world and strengthen your brand’s competitive position.

Key Takeaways

• Share these proactive tips with your customers:
  • Use strong passwords and a password manager
  • Use a virtual private network (VPN)
  • Implement a security browser extension
  • Set parental controls for children
  • Use an identity theft protection service
    
    
• Brands that proactively offer data privacy tools with complementary identity protection solutions demonstrate a commitment to security that goes beyond a single transaction.
  
  
• Offering Personal Web Defense from Iris can help you stand out. Our new digital solution includes three core features: VPN, password vault, and household data protection to secure your customers’ devices and inspire trust. 

Data Privacy & Identity Protection Tips to Share with Your Customers

As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. And, while the internet is full of learning opportunities, everyone should still understand the risks and how they can protect their digital world from prying eyes and identity thieves.

Simple & Essential Security Tips for Everyone

Here are a few best practices you can share with your customers:

1. Use strong passwords and a password manager. A password manager creates, stores, and auto-fills passwords for your online accounts. Plus, with a password manager, you only have to remember one strong master password to access the tool. Remember to:
   1. Avoid recycling passwords.
   2. Create long, complex, and unique passwords for each account.
   3. Avoid storing passwords on sticky notes or relying on your own memory.
      
      
2. Use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN is a way to connect to the internet by creating a private network from a public internet connection. It essentially scrambles your data to make it unreadable and masks your device’s location so the data can’t be traced back to you. Before purchasing a VPN, review the digital privacy and security settings to ensure they don’t track or log your online activities.
   
   
3. Implement a security browser extension. Security browser extensions can significantly enhance your online safety and privacy. They often block ads that track your online activity, so the websites you visit can’t collect your personally identifiable information, including malicious or phishing websites. To help keep your personal information safe, review the privacy and sharing permissions of the extension before installing it.
   
   
4. Set parental controls for children. Adults aren’t the only people using the Internet – children rely on the World Wide Web, too. The vast majority of teens have access to digital devices, such as smartphones (95%), desktop or laptop computers (90%), and gaming consoles (80%).¹ Nowadays, children have unprecedented access to the internet via these devices. The World Wide Web is a vast world of entertainment, social interactions, and a wealth of educational opportunities. However, with this convenience also comes risks, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, excessive screen time, and data compromise. Setting parental controls allows parents to set healthy digital boundaries and a safer online experience for children.
   
   
5. Use an identity theft protection service. Your data is worth a lot of money to many different people, businesses, and organizations. Unfortunately, that list also includes identity thieves. Using a comprehensive data privacy and identity protection service empowers you to take control of your personal data and protect your information – including your financial information – from unauthorized access. If you haven’t already, sign up for a comprehensive identity & cyber protection service that includes credit monitoring, dark web monitoring, and 24/7/365 full-service fraud resolution assistance should you ever find yourself the victim of fraud.

We’re making it easier than ever for our clients’ customers to take further control of their digital security through our platform. Personal Web Defense is a powerful new addition to our identity and cyber protection solutions, designed to safeguard users and their families while browsing the web, banking, shopping, and so much more. Iris is proud to meet the need for innovative tools that bring peace of mind to households everywhere, while also providing our partners an easy way to differentiate themselves from their competition in a world where cybersecurity is paramount.

Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris

Enhance Customer Loyalty with Data Privacy & Customer Data Protection

While education is one piece of the puzzle, the key is offering educational resources and the tools consumers need to mitigate their risk of data compromise.

Brands that proactively offer data privacy tools with complementary identity protection solutions demonstrate a commitment to security that goes beyond a single transaction. Almost 6 in 10 (57%) of Americans say they would be more likely to do business with a retailer, consumer brand, bank, or credit card provider if they were offered identity protection. Further, 76% of American consumers say they’d feel more secure if a business offered a proactive solution to reduce their risk of falling for scams.

When you prioritize consumers’ privacy by providing them tools to help protect against identity theft, account takeovers, and data compromise, you create a stickier customer experience, capture additional revenue, and extend your business portfolio in a new market.

Respect Consumers' Privacy by Offering Personal Web Defense from Iris^®

In a time when cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to discern – especially with the advancements in AI technology – businesses like yours have a growing responsibility to protect their customers’ identity data, devices, and families’ online experience. With Personal Web Defense from Iris^® Powered by Generali, you can embrace this responsibility and delight your customers with robust data privacy tools.

Personal Web Defense from Iris combines security and privacy in a single app you can integrate with your existing offering. With it, your customers can install enhanced protection on their desktop or mobile device – Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android – delivering protection for all household members in a few simple steps.

Key Features of Personal Web Defense

Designed for brands looking to differentiate their business further and offer their audience robust online protection, Iris’ digital solution guards customers from various cyber threats, elevating your data protection program to a new level:

• VPN
• Password Vault
• Household Data Protection
  • Antivirus Scanning and Firewall
  • Secure Browsing
  • Parental Controls

Iris offers a library of identity protection solutions that perfectly complement your new privacy tool. Choose from over a dozen complementary solutions like dark web monitoring, award-winning fraud resolution, scam analysis assistance, and others to deliver alongside your Personal Web Defense offering. With the Iris Platform, you choose what you want your identity and data privacy program to include and how you want to offer it to your customers.

Visit IrisIdentityProtection.com/PersonalWebDefense to learn more.

Contact us today to explore how Personal Web Defense from Iris can enhance your product offering, strengthen your competitive position, and keep your customers – and their families – safe online.

Let's Get Started!

1. Pew Research Center, Teens, Social Media and Technology, 2022
2. F-Secure, Living Secure, 2024