More people than ever understand that identity protection is essential. But knowing the danger of identity theft isn’t the same as knowing how to truly protect your identity. And when identity theft strikes, the costs — time, money, and stress — can ripple across both personal and professional life.
For employers, that means distracted employees, lost productivity, and legal exposure. But the right strategy can close the gap between awareness and action — shielding employees and reducing risk for your company.
Let’s explore why awareness is rising, where the gaps are, and how both businesses and individuals can take simple first steps toward stronger identity theft protection.
What’s Driving the Increase in Awareness?
Employees and consumers alike are seeing identity theft protection as a priority today, thanks to:
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AI-driven scams — Deepfake audio, spoofed emails, and chatbot scams are more convincing than ever.
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Breaches in the headlines — News of major hacks and stolen data hits the media almost weekly.
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Personal/family experiences — Many people know someone who’s been affected — or have been victims themselves.
Yet despite this rising awareness, many remain unsure of how to start their own identity protection journey.
The Gap Between Awareness and Taking Action
Why does this gap persist?
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Uncertainty about where to start
Many people feel overwhelmed by the steps needed for identity theft prevention. -
Misconceptions
“It won’t happen to me” is still a common — and risky — belief. -
Complexity and fatigue
Passwords, credit freezes, scam monitoring… It’s easy to feel lost in a sea of advice and tools.
Without clear guidance, many employees stay exposed — and employers are left vulnerable to productivity loss and legal risks when identity theft strikes.
How Businesses Can Promote Identity Protection for Employees
As an employer or HR leader, you have an opportunity to close this gap and protect your people with an identity protection benefit. Here’s how:
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Provide clear, easy-to-understand education
Break through complexity with actionable tips employees can use today to protect their identity. -
Offer meaningful tools and benefits
Employee identity protection programs like defend-id provide 24/7 identity monitoring, live restoration advocates, and peace of mind for both employees and their families. -
Normalize proactive identity protection in the workplace
When leadership treats security as part of company culture, employees are more likely to adopt protective habits.
When employees know their company is invested in their identity theft protection, it builds trust — and shields the organization from downstream risks like lost work time or breach liability.
Simple Identity Protection Steps for Individuals
If you or your employees are wondering how to start protecting your identity, these actions offer the highest impact:
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Use strong, unique passwords for every account and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
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Freeze credit with all three major credit bureaus — it’s free and stops unauthorized credit applications.
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Monitor financial accounts and set up alerts for any suspicious activity — or enroll in an identity monitoring program.
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Know who to call — having access to trained identity recovery specialists (as included in defend-id programs) ensures fast, expert help if a breach occurs.
The Time to Act Is Now
Awareness is growing — but that’s not enough. The best time to implement identity theft protection for yourself, your employees, and your company is before identity theft happens.
If you’re an HR leader, consider adding a simple, cost-effective identity protection benefit this year. If you’re an individual, commit to taking one proactive step today to protect your identity.
[Explore how defend-id can help →]
