IdentityForce
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Identity theft protection software |
| Predecessor | Stop-Loss Associates, Inc. |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Steven Bearak, Judy Leary |
| Headquarters | Framingham, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Individuals, enterprises, organizations, federal government entities |
Key people | Brian J. Longe (President and CEO) |
| Products | Identity theft protection software |
| Parent | TransUnion |
IdentityForce is a U.S.-based provider of identity theft protection software, catering to individuals, enterprises, organizations, and federal government entities.
With its main office located in Framingham, Massachusetts, IdentityForce was established in 2005 by siblings Steven Bearak and Judy Leary. The company originally began as Stop-Loss Associates, Inc., a subchapter S corporation incorporated in Massachusetts on October 30, 1978. EZShield acquired the company on August 15, 2018. Subsequently, in June 2019, IdentityForce and EZShield combined and rebranded under their parent company, Sontiq Inc., which was later purchased by TransUnion, incorporating IdentityForce into TransUnion’s suite of brands.
Initial period (1978–1996)
Stop-Loss Associates, Inc. was founded in 1978 by Herbert P. Bearak as a firm specializing in loss prevention analysis, focusing on developing security policies and testing security equipment.
In 1992, Bearak Reports was introduced as a division that provided services such as asset searches, background checks, business intelligence, and access to public records for clients including law firms, financial institutions, government bodies, and corporate organizations.
By 1996, the Marcom Group acquired Stop-Loss Associates through an asset sale; however, the Bearak family maintained complete ownership of the company's stock. Following this transaction, the firm was renamed Bearak Reports, Inc.
Later that same year, Bearak Reports created The Privacy Group division to offer consumer privacy protection solutions during the early stages of widespread internet adoption.
Formation of IdentityForce
In 2006, Bearak Reports, Inc. launched IdentityForce to assist businesses and government agencies impacted by data breaches. This initiative followed heightened public awareness after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs revealed a breach affecting the personal information of more than 28.6 million veterans and active military personnel. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) granted Bearak Reports, Inc., operating as IdentityForce, a government-wide Federal Supply Schedule Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for identity monitoring and breach response services.
The company secured further BPAs for related services in 2011 and 2013. By 2015, IdentityForce had attained Tier One approval as an identity protection provider for breaches involving over 21.5 million individuals. In 2016, Bearak Reports, Inc. officially changed its name to IdentityForce, Inc.
Acquisition and rebranding phase (2018–2021)
On August 15, 2018, EZShield—a portfolio company of the Wicks Group—acquired IdentityForce to strengthen its digital security portfolio amid increasing cyber threats.
On June 26, 2019, IdentityForce and EZShield merged under the unified brand Sontiq with headquarters based in Framingham, Massachusetts. Brian J. Longe was appointed President and CEO in March 2020.
In 2021, TransUnion completed its acquisition of Sontiq, thereby adding IdentityForce to its range of products.