{"id":9530,"date":"2026-08-31T11:06:58","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T09:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datanamixdev.wpengine.com\/media\/?p=9530"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:06:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T09:06:58","slug":"how-to-identify-higher-risk-actions-in-a-digital-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.datanamix.com\/media\/2026\/08\/31\/how-to-identify-higher-risk-actions-in-a-digital-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"How to identify higher-risk actions in a digital journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to identify higher-risk actions in a digital journey begins with consequence. An action deserves closer attention when it can move value, redirect a payment, change account control, expose sensitive information or produce an outcome that is difficult to reverse.<\/p>\n

Understanding how to identify higher-risk actions in a digital journey also requires separating access from activity. Authentication establishes trust when the user enters an application. The level of risk can change later as the user moves from viewing information to changing settings, approving access or directing value somewhere new.<\/p>\n

Begin with the outcome of the action<\/h2>\n

Industry labels are useful, but they are not the best starting point for assessing in-app risk. The same underlying action may appear in several types of application.<\/p>\n

Changing a payout account can affect an insurance claim, a medical-aid refund, a property booking or the earnings of a platform worker. Adding an administrator can affect a business application, hospitality account or public-service portal.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the outcome makes it easier to identify similar risks across different digital journeys.<\/p>\n

Group actions into five practical categories<\/h2>\n

Actions that move value<\/h3>\n

These actions release money, credit, loyalty value, refunds or other transferable benefits.<\/p>\n

Examples include approving a payment, redeeming loyalty points, drawing down credit or using a stored payment method for a high-value purchase.<\/p>\n

Actions that redirect value<\/h3>\n

These actions change where money or another benefit will be sent.<\/p>\n

Examples include replacing payout details, changing a refund account, linking an external wallet or adding a new payment destination.<\/p>\n

Actions that change control<\/h3>\n

These actions affect who can access, administer or recover the account.<\/p>\n

Examples include granting another user access, activating an electronic SIM on a new device, changing registered contact details or authorising another administrator.<\/p>\n

Actions that expose sensitive information<\/h3>\n

These actions reveal or export personal, financial, health, customer or operational information.<\/p>\n

The risk depends on the sensitivity of the information, the user’s permissions and the consequence of disclosure.<\/p>\n

Actions that are difficult to reverse<\/h3>\n

Some changes create consequences that cannot be corrected easily. A payment may be released, a benefit redirected, a new user granted access or sensitive information exported before the organisation or customer notices.<\/p>\n

The harder the outcome is to reverse, the stronger the case for confirming that the authorised person remains behind the interaction.<\/p>\n

Compare low-risk and higher-risk moments<\/h2>\n

The same application can contain very different levels of risk.<\/p>\n

A customer may check a booking and later change the account receiving a refund. A medical-aid member may read a statement and later replace the bank details used for reimbursements. A retailer’s customer may view an order and later redeem a large balance of loyalty points.<\/p>\n

This comparison helps teams avoid adding unnecessary friction to routine activity while still identifying the actions that deserve greater identity confidence.<\/p>\n

Review the controls already in place<\/h2>\n

Identity assurance should not be assessed in isolation. Organisations may already use passwords, one-time PINs, recognised devices, biometric checks, access permissions, transaction monitoring and fraud investigation.<\/p>\n

Each control answers a different question. Authentication helps decide whether access should be granted. Permissions define what the account can do. Transaction monitoring assesses the action. Device controls provide information about the environment.<\/p>\n

Additional identity assurance contributes another piece of context: whether the authorised person remains present as the session continues.<\/p>\n

Decide where renewed identity confidence adds value<\/h2>\n

For each higher-risk action, teams can ask:<\/p>\n