Identity Force, ID Analytics reach reseller pact

Identity Force, a provider of identity theft solutions based in Framingham, Mass., and ID Analytics, an identity risk management technology company based in San Diego, announced today an agreement that will make Identity Force a government reseller of ID Analytics’ breach analysis services.

Identity Force is one of three companies that has received a blanket purchase agreement by the General Services Administration to provide credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to the government.

As a result of the new partnership, ID Analytics’ services will be available from Identity Force to help agencies determine whether anyone has misused compromised data in an organized way.

“Our partnership combines Identity Force’s leadership in helping government agencies combat identity theft with ID Analytics’ unique ability to evaluate the actual threat level of data breaches,” said Bruce Hansen, chairman and chief executive officer of ID Analytics, in the announcement.

“When fraudsters use stolen identity information for financial gain, they typically leave telltale signs that are detectable only through the ID Network,” Hansen said. The ID Network is ID Analytics’ real-time identity fraud prevention system that searches for patterns of organized or systematic misuse.

People committing fraud may change addresses or phone numbers when they use compromised identities to open bank accounts, obtain mobile phones or secure credit cards, he said. Through careful analysis, the identities of individuals who were part of the same breach may start to relate to one another in suspicious ways, he added.

“By applying deep analytics across multiple companies and industries, we are able to identify systematic misuse of datasets,” Hansen said.

ID Analytics’ breach analysis services compare an attacked file against data in the ID Network.

The ID Network comprises more than 3 billion identity elements spanning the financial services, telecommunications, e-commerce, health care, utilities, retail, government and consumer sectors.

Hansen said the evaluation gives agencies a better understanding of the risks associated with their data breaches and an assistance plan to protect affected individuals.

ID Analytics can also produce a list of affected identities and details on the patterns of misuse. An organization can then directly assist victims as necessary. Information discovered during analyses can be turned over to law enforcement to help apprehend people who misuse identities.

“ID Analytics’ services are a perfect addition to our offerings,” said Steven Bearak, CEO of Identity Force. “With this powerful service, our government customers can analyze a data loss or breach to establish the level of risk involved and design a rapid response program that is both affordable and appropriate for the situation.”