Protecting your customers from identity theft isn’t only the right thing to do, but it’s also a requirement for your business. The U.S. government hands down strict penalties for businesses that don’t protect sensitive customer data. There are several ways to protect your customers and help them to avoid the stress of exposure.
Company Store Card
If you’re a retail store, consider offering a store credit card to qualified customers. This option allows you to restrict potential fraud to products offered by your company, and it helps prevent your customer information from getting into the wrong hands. A major credit card in the hands of a criminal can be a major issue for the customer, but a store credit card can only be used at your outlet. This makes it safer for the customer overall.
Don’t Collect Sensitive Data
Obviously, you’ll need to collect certain data to process customer orders. But, you should only collect the right type of data. Avoid collecting data that you don’t really need like social security and driver’s license numbers. You should require that customers enter a CVV code when paying by credit card. This can help you to protect your customers since that information is only available to people who have access to the physical card.
Use Secure Communications
Delete any emails that customers send you with their private information. More importantly, never request personal information by email. If you need to call a customer, have them provide a partial list of information to confirm their identity. Make sure they know that they will not have to provide sensitive data in its entirety unless it is through a secure method of communication. Set up security questions and other data that only the customer knows to protect their accounts.
Tailored IT Support
Affordable IT solutions are available to help protect your customers from identity theft. However, you must also take the necessary steps to ensure your employees and customers are informed about best practices to ensure a successful and thriving relationship between your company and them. Learning about the different options that Ottawa IT services can provide your company can help you develop a sound plan of action to protect your business interests.
By implementing best practices to protect your customers, you can help avoid an embarrassing and costly situation for your company. Send out security bulletins to new customers so they will know how you may collect information or verify their accounts. Use disk shredding, magnetic disk cleaning and other methods to irrevocably delete electronic data as well.