Guardian Protection Services, Warrendale, Pa., a privately held security company ranked No. 9 on the SDM 100, announced that it will provide a comprehensive identity theft protection program to its customers in partnership with Ocenture, a provider of RMR growth tools for the security industry based in Goleta, Calif. In doing so, Guardian becomes the first national alarm company to incorporate identity theft protection services into its service offering, the company stated.

In 2009, identity theft claimed 11.4 million victims in the United States, an increase of 37 percent over 2007. 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 more than 20 percent per year, Ocenture reported.

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 more than 650 billion data points and more than 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. “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. “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.”