Top 4 Ways Brands Can Make Security Easy (and Why It Matters)

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes

Quick question for you: How many times this week have you abandoned an online action because it seemed too complicated or time-consuming?

If you’re like most people, the answer is probably more than once.

We live in an age of instant gratification, where a slow-loading page can send users running to competitors. Yet when it comes to security, many brands still pile on layers of complexity that frustrate users, and paradoxically, make them less secure.

Throughout this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CAM), we’ve explored how individuals can strengthen their digital defenses – from mastering password management to staying up to date with software updates. But here’s the reality: even the most security-conscious users can only do so much when the systems they interact with create unnecessary barriers. Even worse, some platforms project a sense of safety that doesn’t fully match the reality, leaving users more vulnerable than they realize.

As we close out October, let’s shift our focus to the other side of the equation – the brands and organizations that have the power to make security seamless, intuitive, and dare we say, easy. Because when security feels effortless, everyone wins.

Key Takeaways

• Identity protection and data security don’t have to be complicated. Brands that simplify password management, automate updates, and design security into the user experience strengthen customers’ protection efforts without causing friction.
  
  
• Education works best when it’s bite-sized. Contextual and timely security guidance empowers users without overwhelming them.
  
  
• The gap between perceived and actual security is real. By offering consumers identity protection and cybersecurity tools, brands can close this gap and build genuine trust.
  
  
• Cybersecurity is a year-round partnership. When organizations make security seamless, everyone benefits – from reduced churn to increased customer loyalty and long-term business value.

Four Actionable Strategies Brands Can Leverage to Make Security Easy for Consumers

Here are four actionable ways brands can make security easy for their customers, including strategies that protect users while building trust, loyalty, and long-term business value.

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1. Simplify Password Management & Layered Security

Let’s be honest: expecting users to create and remember dozens of unique and complex passwords is a recipe for disaster. Our memories are only so reliable.

Yet, many organizations still rely on outdated password and login policies that make security feel like a burden rather than a benefit. The result? Users resort to risky workarounds such as reusing passwords, simplifying passwords or passphrases, and storing credentials in unsecure locations.

And as we discussed in our blog on perceived confidence versus reality, there’s often a gap between how secure people feel and how secure they actually are – including the security of their online accounts and devices.

Smart brands are taking it a step further with account and device security. Single sign-on (SSO) options, biometric authentication, and authenticator apps reduce users' cognitive load while actually improving their security. And in marketplaces that make sense, offering customers reputable password managers makes compliance with security best practices much more achievable.

Our guide to password management and multi-factor authentication highlights how small measures make a big difference – without causing friction to the customer experience.

2. Automate Updates and Maintenance

Here’s another question for you: When was the last time you clicked “Update Now” – without hesitation – when prompted?

Most people treat software updates like dental appointments – necessary, perhaps, but easy to put off indefinitely. The problem is that every delayed update represents a potential vulnerability that cybercriminals can exploit.

Brands that care about their customers’ security don’t leave updates to chance. They make automatic updates a default setting and offer educational materials and resources explaining why automatic updates matter and how to verify they are enabled.

As we covered in our guide to software updates, businesses have the power to make cybersecurity more accessible, bridging the confidence and security gaps for everyone.

3. Educate Without Overwhelming

Security awareness training shouldn’t feel like a doctoral dissertation.

Too often, organizations bombard users with lengthy tutorials, dense documentation, or annual compliance courses that feel disconnected from daily reality. When that happens, the information goes in one ear and out the other – if it makes it in at all.

Effective security education meets users where they are with bite-sized, contextual information delivered at the moment it’s most relevant. A few ideas include:

• A quick tooltip explaining why MFA matters when setting up an account
• A brief notification about a new phishing tactic making the rounds
• An easily digestible resource hub that users can reference when questions arise

This month, we’ve worked to make cybersecurity habits accessible and actionable – and we’re not stopping when October ends. Our CAM resource hub provides ongoing guidance on topics ranging from recognizing scams to protecting personal information. We’ve also explored these topics in depth during our recent webinar, Scams in America: Breaking the Cycle of Daily Fraud, which provided expert insights into the scam and fraud landscape.

4. Build Data Security into the Experience

Security should never feel like an afterthought – because when it is, it shows.

The brands that get security right don’t bolt it on at the end of the development process. They bake it into every aspect of the user experience, from initial account creation to daily interactions to eventual account closure. When this happens, security is no longer a hurdle; it becomes a feature and benefit for all.

This user-centric approach means considering questions like:

• How can our brand verify customers’ identity without creating unnecessary friction?
• Where might legitimate users struggle, and how can we ease those pain points?
• What security measures will users actually use versus those they’ll bypass out of frustration?

The balance between security and usability isn’t a zero-sum game. With thoughtful design, brands can offer robust protection that enhances rather than hinders the user experience.

Looking Forward: Cybersecurity & Identity Protection as a Shared Effort

CAM may be coming to a close, but the work of staying secure – and keeping your customers protected – is year-round.

When brands take responsibility for making security easy and accessible, the burden doesn’t fall entirely on individual users. It becomes a shared effort – a partnership in which both parties play to their strengths.

As we move forward, the question isn’t whether to prioritize security or the user experience. It’s how to deliver both simultaneously, creating a digital environment where people can transact, communicate, and connect with confidence.

At Iris, we believe that staying safe online shouldn’t be complicated. It should be a natural part of doing business in the digital age – for companies and consumers alike. If you want to take the next step and don’t know where to start, let us help you get started.

Let’s keep the conversation going beyond October. The security of our digital future depends on it.

Whether you're reading this in October or April, visit our interactive CAM resource hub for comprehensive guidance, practical end-consumer tools, and insights to help you and your customers navigate the evolving threat landscape.

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