February, 2005 – In the EDS Canada Privacy and Identity Management Survey, consumers indicated some strong preferences that chief privacy officers (CPO) may want to consider adopting. These top 10 tips summarize the actions that consumers are looking for:
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Focus on a convenient, flexible, easy-to-use identity management solution.
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Experiment with adding a biometrics option where security needs are high.
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Vary the information used in verification.
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Understand consumers’ needs for education about identity theft, identity validation processes, and protection from telephone scams and phishing.
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Notify consumers on how you handle information and protect consumer privacy.
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Be vigilant of new processes and technologies within your company that could go awry.
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If consumer expectations of security are low for your industry, ensure there are no “smoking guns,” especially as you migrate to new technology and the Internet.
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Be prepared to inform all affected customers of a security breach of their personal information. Almost all consumers want such notification.
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Help consumers know how to resolve identity theft. The majority still do not know what actions to take.
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Seek out what your customers want and close the gaps.
JANUARY 31, 2005 – TORONTO, Ontario – Many Canadian consumers continue to provide personal and confidential information over the phone and via the Web that could lead to fraudulent transactions and even identity theft, according to a national survey.
The survey, commissioned by EDS Canada Inc. and conducted by Ipsos-Reid, indicates that when contacted by phone, 61 per cent of Canadians are willing to provide their postal code, 54 per cent will provide their address, 12 per cent will supply their account numbers and 10 per cent will supply passwords.
The results suggest that some consumers remain unaware of potential identity theft issues related to telephone scams and “phishing,” in which an email directs a user to a bogus Web site that is set up to steal the user’s information. These Web sites resemble those of legitimate organizations, such as banks.
About the EDS Canada Privacy and Identity Management Survey
The cross-Canada survey was commissioned by EDS Canada Inc. and conducted by Ipsos-Reid, Canada’s leading provider of public opinion research. EDS Canada chose to sponsor this major market survey to assist its clients in the development of identity management solutions that fit the needs of its customers.
The Internet survey received responses from 1,735 Canadians between January 13 and 17, 2005. The results are accurate plus or minus 2.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20. The survey also provides results for each of the two groups and by region.
About EDS Canada
EDS provides a broad portfolio of business and technology solutions to help its clients worldwide improve their business performance. EDS’ core portfolio comprises informationtechnology, applications and business process services, as well as information-technology transformation services. With 7,600 employees across the country, EDS reported Canadian revenues of $1.05 billion in 2003 With more than $20 billion in annual revenue, EDS is ranked 87th on the Fortune 500. The company’s stock is traded on the New York (NYSE: EDS) and London stock exchanges.
