June 10, 2010 - WARRENDALE, PA - Guardian Protection Services (Guardian), the world's largest privately-held security company, announced today that it will provide a comprehensive identity theft protection program to its customers in partnership with Ocenture, the leading provider of RMR growth tools for the security industry. In doing so, Guardian becomes the first national alarm company to incorporate identity theft protection services into its service offering.
In 2009, identity theft claimed 11.4 million victims in the U.S., an increase of 37% over 2007. In relative terms, identity theft is the single largest and fastest growing category of crime in the United States. Economically, identity fraud cost U.S. consumers $54 billion in 2009 with an average of $4,841 per victim. The market for identity theft solutions is $3 billion per year and growing at over 20% per annum.
Including the identity theft protection program as a basic standard of care for all of its new customers, Guardian simultaneously tackles a major security concern, differentiates itself in the marketplace, and creates a unique value proposition for dealers. Starting in July, Guardian will provide all of its new alarm customers with identity theft protection at no additional charge. The new program includes identity monitoring of over 650 billion data points and over 1,000 databases, personal identity risk scores, monthly identity reports, identity restoration services, and insurance coverage for up to $25,000. As an added benefit, all Guardian customers can upgrade to an enhanced level of identity protection by paying an incremental monthly fee.
"We are thrilled to be the first alarm company to embed identity theft protection into its basic service offering and help our customers protect themselves against this epidemic," said Joe Colosimo, President of Guardian Protection Services. Colosimo continued, "We are equally pleased to select Ocenture as our partner. It has a superior product and understands the alarm industry better than any other company we met during our exhaustive search."
"Teaming up with a 60-year, market leader like Guardian Protection Services offers Ocenture a tremendous opportunity," said Adrian Sedlin, Chief Executive Officer of Ocenture. Sedlin continued, "Guardian is a true innovator, recognizing that to grow RMR, increase market share, and reduce attrition entails evolving beyond doors and windows and providing 360-degree security solutions like ID theft protection."
About Guardian Protection Services:
Guardian Protection Services is the world's largest privately-held
security company and one of the Armstrong Group of companies.
Guardian sells, installs and monitors security systems for homes
and businesses throughout the United States. Protection of life and
property has been the company's exclusive focus for 60 years.
Guardian currently protects over 220,000 customers, consistently
ranks in the top 10 of Security Distributing & Marketing (SDM)
magazine's SDM 100, and is known for having a very favorable dealer
program.
About Ocenture:
Ocenture specializes in expanding RMR, driving customer
acquisitions, and decreasing attrition for security and peace of
mind oriented companies such as central stations, alarms companies,
insurance providers, and security equipment manufacturers.
Specifically, Ocenture delivers private-label solutions for
identity theft protection, family protection, crime monitoring,
sexual predator monitoring, computer security, data backup, and
more.
Companies leverage Ocenture's tools as product differentiators, marketing premiums, retention drivers, and cross-sells. Last year, Ocenture placed 241 on Inc. magazine's prestigious Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing, private companies in the United States.
© Guardian Protection Services, One of the Armstrong Group of Companies
