As a leading provider of contract cleaning services to High Security facilities, Mister Kleen is supporting the first ever “Identity Management Day” on April 13 to broaden awareness about this important security issue. The Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) created this annual initiative to share best practices in managing and security digital identities.

For organizations, the IDSA offers advice on its Identity Management Day resources page, including tips from businesses and agencies. NCSA, meanwhile, is providing advice for consumers – see highlights below from their site.

TIPS FOR CONSUMERS

Don’t be quick to click. Be wary of suspicious emails and texts from a person or business you don’t know – don’t click on any links or open attachments without verifying if they’re legitimate. These “phishing” scams can be very sophisticated and often capitalize on current trends such as vaccine appointments or stimulus payments. Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Information page for the most recent scam alerts.

Think before you post. When you include personal information on your social media updates, attackers can use that information to impersonate you. Consider creating an alternate profile to use online and avoid sharing information that could identify you.

Use strong passwords. Create long, complex and unique phrases to use for each of your accounts. Also enable multifactor authentication such as requiring a PIN or code sent to your phone or email, or fingerprint ID or facial recognition.

Avoid public Wi-Fi. An identity thief could access your phone, tablet or laptop if you use an unsecured Wi-Fi network and obtain account information or download malware onto your unprotected device. A personal/mobile hotspot or virtual private network offer more secure connections.

Update your software. Attackers are always taking advantage of security holes in software. Set automatic updates or notifications for available updates on all devices connected to the internet.

Lock down your privacy. Configure the privacy and security settings to your comfort level whenever you download a new app, get a new device or sign up for a new account. Check these settings at least once a year.

For more tips and advice on reducing the likelihood that your digital identity is compromised, visit the Identity Management Day site.

Mister Kleen is a leading provider of contract cleaning services to Commercial and High Security facilities, including SCIFs, since 1976. Our primary service area is the DC Metro region. We also provide a variety of interior and exterior specialty services, including Disinfection services.