No one would worry about digital footprints and other terms if this were in the 50s or a few years later. However, over the last decade, our lives have been more digital-centric than not. The internet has seen a massive rise in digital technology and other systems that make things easy for individuals and organizations.
The figures are there for all to see. Rising numbers in digital banking, e-commerce sales, mobile or computer use, and much more. All these have led to misconceptions about digital identity technology, including its role.
This article explores such misconceptions and provides the answers you need.
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Only Big Tech Companies Use Digital Identity
Look around you. The number of businesses online outstrips the number offline. Regardless of their size, many brands recognize the importance of being on the internet, which includes more visibility and ease of business processes.
Since many employees work with systems, your whole team can be vulnerable to attacks. All businesses need adequate protection, meaning digital identity and the tech that comes with it, and this applies to small and big brands.
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If I Avoid Digital Identity, I’m Safe From Online Attacks
Digital Identity technology cuts across different areas, making it difficult to avoid many processes. For example, you have a digital identity if you do anything online, whether shopping, gaming, banking, reservations, or anything else. That means you are potentially exposed to online attacks like fraud.
Rather than going back to the Stone Age or living all your life offline, take advantage of genuine security measures, such as advanced biometrics and complex passwords.
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Digital Identity Must Involve Highly Personal Identifiable Information
Many businesses are happy to include customer information without checking the consequences. It’s a mistake to put sensitive personal information like full names or social insurance numbers in systems to track customer identities.
This move is risky due to the proliferation of data breaches. Safer methods, such as coded customer numbers, are available.
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Digital Identity Equals Loss of Privacy
Digital identity and biometric data are considered personal data, and as such, they’re protected by data privacy laws. The laws spell out rules that require transparency as to how biometric data is to be used and for how long and ensure that the customer explicitly consents to the use.
Various international bodies across continents have set up frameworks that give users complete control to choose which aspects of their identity and data they share with third parties. Such frameworks also include the right to keep track of their sharing.
Thanks to digital identity protected by robust biometric authentication, individuals can enjoy greater control over the privacy of their information.
Conclusion
Digital identity technology is a crucial topic, and because of its unique capabilities, misconceptions can arise. Thankfully, this article has pointed out some of them and their opposing realities.
We live in a time when data is a valuable commodity, so it’s normal to have risks associated with digital identity. Attacks from malicious sources will continue, but many innovative ways exist to combat such issues.
Businesses that collect or store customer data must adapt to changing times to secure such information and maintain trust.
