What is PII?

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is data that can be used to identify an individual. It includes information such as Social Security numbers, addresses, credit card numbers, bank accounts, drivers license numbers, and more. Any organization that collects, processes, or stores PII must protect it from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure.

Why is PII Important?

PII is important because it can be used to access an individual’s accounts, steal their identity, or commit fraud. It can also be used to target an individual for cyberattacks or other malicious activities. As such, it is essential for organizations to protect PII and comply with data protection regulations.

How Can Organizations Protect PII?

Organizations should adopt security measures to protect PII. These measures can include:

Encryption

Encryption is a process of scrambling data to make it unreadable to unauthorized individuals. It is used to protect PII from unauthorized access or disclosure.

Access Controls

Access controls restrict who has access to PII. Organizations should only grant access to PII to those with a legitimate need for it.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Solutions

DLP solutions monitor and detect attempts to access, use, or disclose PII. They can also be used to block unauthorized access or alert organizations of any suspicious activity.

Security Policies

Organizations should establish security policies to ensure that PII is protected. These policies should specify how data should be handled, who is authorized to access it, and how it should be stored or disposed of.

Conclusion

PII is an important type of data that must be protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Organizations must adopt security measures such as encryption, access controls, DLP solutions, and security policies to protect PII and comply with data protection regulations.