[Related: P.F. Chang's IDs 33 restaurants hit by data breach]

The good news is, as the opportunities for identity theft have increased in recent years, so have the tools at our disposal to protect ourselves. And you're starting to see these protections seeping into much of the financial services industry as well. Identity protection features are now almost standard issue at banks and, yes, insurance companies, designed as much for client retention as for data security at the institutional level. After all, when you're taking steps to protect each and every client on your rolls, protecting the entire business as a whole becomes that much easier.

Competitive intelligence firm, Corporate Insight, recently polled five of the largest insurers in the U.S. to find out what identity protection features they offer their clients. Click through the following pages to review their findings.

Nationwide

Customers who purchase Nationwide's Identity Theft Speciality Insurance coverage can take advantage of the following:

- Access to a special identity theft hotline for personal, 24/7 help in the event of a breach.

- Up to $25,000 in expense reimbursement to cover losses due to identity theft.

- Access to an optional credit monitoring service for more real-time protection.

- Services that put users in touch with local financial advisors in the event of a data breach.

USAA

- Optional ID Theft Coverage is available as part of USAA's Renters' and Homeowners' Insurance plans, adding $5,000 worth of coverage to the existing policy.

- The firm has also partnered with Experian to provide members with discounted rates on the credit bureau's credit monitoring services.

The Principal Financial Group

- All group business life insurance customers have access to a free identity theft tool kit, offered in partnership with legal services company ARAG, that helps clients in the event of an identity crime.

- Beyond that, all customers have access to an ID theft education page with tips on how to minimize personal risk.

Liberty Mutual

- Homeowners' insurance customers can purchase option Identity Fraud Expense Coverage which can be added for $35 or less per year. The plan includes up to $15,000 worth of coverage per identity theft occurance and $30,000 per policy period.

- The insurer also offers several pages of educational material on its web page to help prevent identity theft and response to a breach.

MetLife

MetLife offers an optional product for individuals and families called MetLife Defender that includes financial data protection, health data monitoring and online child safety features. Users get:

- 24/7 live help to resolve any problems

- A $5 million service guarantee for any third-party services that are needed in the event of a crime.

MetLife also offers free basic identity theft protection as part of its Auto and Home coverages. Educational content is also available on the firm's public site.