In Brief

Top 10 Ways You Can Help Prevent ID Theft

While consumer awareness is key, companies can also take important measures

July 01, 2005 — CSO —

1. Don't ask for your customers' Social Security numbers (SSNs). And dont use your employees' SSNs as their ID numbers, time card numbers or passwords.
2. Develop a crisis management plan to be used if sensitive data on employees or customers is lost or stolen.
3. Pressure service providers, including insurance companies or retirement funds managers, to stop using employee SSNs as identifiers.
4. Institute a clean-desk policy, especially in the HR department. Require password-activated screensavers.
5. Conduct background checks on employees and new hires who have access to sensitive information.
6. Store sensitive personal data in secure computer systems. Encrypt the data.
7. Store physical documents in secure spaces such as locked file cabinets.
8. Dispose of documents properly, including shredding paper with a cross-cut shredder, "wiping" electronic files, and destroying computer disks
   and CDs.
9. Conduct regular staff training for new and existing employees, temporary employees and contractors.
10. Conduct privacy "walk-throughs." Give rewards for best practices.

Source:Privacy Rights Clearing-house.

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