The Sontiq Story

We've been innovating since 1978, but with a combined 60+ years of experience, and are proud of our rich history securing identities.

Four Decades of Identity Security

1978	Herbert P. Bearak incorporates Stop-Loss Associates in Framingham, Mass., pioneering personal information security and protection services.
1992	Stop-Loss Associates establishes Bearak Reports, which uses credit and non-credit information to provide asset search, background screening, business intelligence and public record information services to law firms, financial services companies and government agencies.
1998	Identity theft and payments fraud increase throughout the 1990s. Identity theft officially becomes a United States federal crime in 1998.
2001	John Browning, founder and CEO of Maryland-based check printing company Custom Direct, learns that it took a retired couple six months to recoup their money after being victimized by check fraud. Inspired to take action, Browning creates the EZShield Check Fraud Protection Program^® to prevent others from experiencing the same thing. It sees immediate acceptance in the marketplace.
2005	Bearak Reports launches IdentityForce, led by siblings Steve Bearak and Judy (Bearak) Leary, to specialize in identity theft protection. IdentityForce continues the family tradition of offering award-winning identity solutions and exceptional customer service.
2007	Following another rise in identity crimes, customers want greater visibility of their identity protection online. Financial institutions and businesses turn to EZShield to help them respond to this customer need. EZShield develops the Secure Partner Platform and Online Identity Vault in response.
2013	EZShield secures Best in Class from analyst firm, Javelin Strategy & Research, followed by consecutive wins in 2015, 2016, 2017 Best in Resolution, and 2018 sweeps all ID Theft Scorecard categories (Prevention, Detection, and Resolution™ capabilities).
2014	EZShield launches a resource web site, Fighting Identity Crimes, providing empowerment and education tools to empower consumers and business owners in the fight against Identity Crime.
2015	The U.S. government awards IdentityForce elite Tier One status as an approved provider of identity protection services for data breaches affecting over 21.5 million people.
2018	Javelin Strategy & Research names IdentityForce 2017 Identity Protection Service Provider Best-In-Class Award Winner, earning top marks in Prevention, Detection, and Resolution™ capabilities. EZShield announces it has acquired IdentityForce. The acquisition expands EZShield’s identity protection ecosystem by nearly 50 percent, providing partners in every industry, businesses of all sizes, and consumers with the most secure capabilities and rapid restoration services.
2019	The creation of Sontiq, the new parent company for identity security industry leaders EZShield and IdentityForce, is announced.