Exclusive: How Entrust is protecting digital identities
In an exclusive interview with Lawrence Tan, Head of Technical Sales Consulting - Digital Security, APJ at Entrust, he shared his expertise and vision of digital identities.
"Entrust keeps the world moving safely by enabling strong identity, secure payments, and protected data," Tan began, outlining the scope and scale of Entrust's operations. "Presently, we serve about 10,000 customers globally, including governments, major banks, and large enterprises, operating in over 150 countries with a network of 1,000 technology and channel partners."
Since its global inception in 1969, Entrust has established a formidable presence in the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, deploying hundreds of employees to meet the burgeoning demands for digital security solutions. "As the region becomes more digitally connected, Entrust's solutions become more critical," Tan noted, highlighting the firm's crucial role in safeguarding millions of identities and payment credentials daily.
A significant portion of our discussion focused on the cutting-edge innovations at Entrust. Recently, the company made headlines with its acquisition of Onfido, known for AI-powered identity verification technology (IDV). "This acquisition positions us as market leaders, integrating machine learning and AI-based biometric and document verification technology into our portfolio," Tan explained. He emphasized the timeliness and relevance of these capabilities, especially given the exponential increase in digital transactions and the rising threat of AI-driven deep fakes, which soared by 3,000% last year, according to Entrust's data.
The integration of AI technologies is central to Entrust's strategy to combat digital fraud, particularly the use of deep fakes in identity theft. "We have to fight AI with AI," Tan stated, explaining that sophisticated AI models developed by Entrust can detect subtle differences between authentic and synthetic images or videos, which are often imperceptible to the human eye.
In response to a question about the challenges posed by AI in security, Tan elucidated the proactive measures Entrust employs. "We train our AI algorithms extensively to recognize and counter the tools and resources fraudulent hackers use," he said, underscoring the ongoing battle against cyber threats and the importance of staying ahead in the technology curve.
The conversation also touched on the importance of data privacy and security, especially in light of World Data Privacy Day. "At Entrust, we take data privacy seriously every day. It's crucial to differentiate between data privacy and security," Tan remarked. He detailed how Entrust helps organizations adhere to varying international data privacy laws and regulations through robust data security frameworks that prioritize encryption and zero trust models.
As businesses worldwide continue to navigate the complexities of hybrid work environments post-COVID-19, Entrust has been instrumental in guiding their digital security transformations. "We found that more organizations are adopting long-term hybrid workplace approaches, necessitating robust data protection capabilities," Tan shared. He highlighted that about 81% of leaders have rolled out employee training on data security as a direct response to the pandemic.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, Tan is optimistic about Entrust's trajectory. "We continue to make significant R&D investments and with the recent integration of Onfido into our portfolio, we are set to solve future digital security problems," he affirmed. The conversation concluded on a forward-thinking note, with Tan mentioning Entrust's pioneering work on post-quantum cryptography, preparing for the eventual transition that the quantum computing era will necessitate.
In a world increasingly dependent on digital transactions and identity verification, companies like Entrust not only provide the necessary tools and technologies but also the strategic foresight to navigate future challenges, ensuring a secure digital environment for all.
