Vanta’s mission is to secure the internet and protect consumer data. Following the launch of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)’s Secure by Design pledge on May 8, 2024, Vanta continues to reinforce our commitment to our mission daily as one of the first organizations to adopt CISA’s Secure by Design pledge. ‍ This pledge simplifies the implementation of best security practices for software companies—raising the bar for protecting customer data.

Working remotely using cloud applications is now the norm for getting things done. But while these shifts offer greater flexibility, they also bring new security challenges. For years, virtual private networks (VPNs) were the go-to solution for securing remote access. But when used at such a large scale, VPNs are inefficient, slowing users down and undoing the productivity gains that come along with remote work. Worse, they expose organizations to unnecessary security risks like lateral movement attacks.

To find out if someone else is using your Social Security number (SSN), you should check your credit reports, review your mySocialSecurity account and be cautious of calls from debt collectors. The idea of a stranger having such sensitive information about your identity can be terrifying. You may even be a victim of the recent data breach in which over 2.9 billion pieces of personal data were stolen from National Public Data.

Once someone knows your IP address, they can determine your approximate location, track your online activity, impersonate you or conduct targeted DDoS attacks. Most cybercriminals will use your IP address to learn more personal information about you through phishing attacks, which can be used to identify and impersonate your internet provider.