Generali Global Assistance And Identity Theft Resource Center Publish White Paper On Employer Obligations For Data Protection

BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Generali Global Assistance ("The Company"), a leader in the assistance industry since its founding in 1963 and part of the global Generali Group, and the developer of a proprietary and innovative identity protection platform,  today published a white paper titled, "Data Protection: Employer Obligations and Motivations."  The Company developed the paper in conjunction with the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft, as a way to deepen their partnership by continuing to provide educational resources focusing on identity protection and identity theft.

The white paper highlights the ever-expanding threats to employee data security, including hacking and spearphishing, among other nefarious techniques.  The ITRC, which has been tracking data breaches since 2005, found that nearly 800 breaches have been reported in 2017 year-to-date, with 63% of incidents resulting from hacking attacks.  The report also explores employers' obligations to protect employee information and to implement best practices for mitigating data breaches.  Additionally, the white paper examines the types of employee information that businesses collect, how data is compromised, current data protection legislation, and more in order to provide business leaders with a more comprehensive understanding of tools and methods available to protect employee data.

Please find the full white paper available for download here.

Paige Schaffer, President and COO of Generali Global Assistance's Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit, commented on today's news, "With 2017 on pace to reach an all-time high of approximately 1,500 reported data breaches, businesses need to be more prepared than ever to mitigate associated risks.  Best practices begin at the organizational level, but it is also critical for companies to ensure that their employees are adequately informed about how to protect data.  An untrained workforce that is not aware of the latest risks and response tactics can represent the greatest threat to a company's security, and therefore education should be a key aspect of every organization's cybersecurity strategy."

Failure to properly protect data can have numerous negative consequences for an organization beyond the financial fallout, including reputational damage and a loss of employee confidence.  According to Generali Global Assistance and the ITRC, companies must begin building the foundation of a strong cybersecurity program now, as the frequency and severity of identity theft and other cybercrime continue to increase.  Offering an identity protection service as an employee benefit is one solution that can demonstrate a company's commitment to its workforce while keeping their information secure.  Organizations should also distribute free identity theft protection and resolution resources that are available from the ITRC, among other organizations.

Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, concluded, "Many employees have an expectation that their employers will be good stewards in the protection of their sensitive personal information.  Given that data breaches are increasing at an unprecedented pace, it is crucial that organizations put procedures in place to protect this information and create a culture that stresses information protection best practices."

For more identity theft resources, tips and commentary, follow Generali Global Assistance on Twitter and LinkedIn.

To learn more about Generali Global Assistance's identity protection offering, please visit http://us.generaliglobalassistance.com/solutions/identity-protection/.

About Generali Global Assistance
Generali Global Assistance has been a leading provider of assistance services and travel insurance for more than 25 years. The Company offers a full suite of innovative, vertically integrated identity protection solutions, travel insurance and emergency services, and beneficiary companion services.  Generali Global Assistance is part of the multinational Generali Group, which for over 185 years has created a presence in 60 countries with over 76,000 employees.  Our success has been built on the foundation of trust that clients have placed in our ability to provide assistance in the most difficult of circumstances.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC)
Founded in 1999, the ITRC is a nationally recognized non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft in resolving their cases, and to broaden public education and awareness in the understanding of identity theft, data breaches, cyber security, scams/fraud, and privacy issues. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its call center, website, social media channels, live chat feature and ID Theft Help app. For more information, visit: http://www.idtheftcenter.org

GGA Media Contact
Jay A. Morakis
M Group Strategic Communications (for Generali Global Assistance North America)
+1 212.266.0191  
[email protected]

GGA Marketing Contact
Eugenia Buggs
VP, Global Marketing, Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit
+1 240.330.1091
[email protected]

ITRC Media Contact
Kelly Dwyer
Director of Communications
+1 858.634.6385
[email protected]

SOURCE Generali Global Assistance