Did you know that by using a mix of gender, ZIP code, and date of birth, 87% of Americans can be distinguished? This highlights the need to safeguard Personally Identifiable Information (PII). PII includes various private info such as names, Social Security numbers, and financial data. It helps spot an individual.¹

It’s key to guard PII to stop identity theft, fraud, and other serious crimes. Doing so also upholds trust and rules.² Organizations must protect the data they gather from customers. They have a duty to use strong cyber protection. Failing this, 64% of people may avoid their services after a data leak.³

As we step further into the digital world, we all must take PII protection seriously. This is vital for both people and companies. By keeping data safe, companies win their customers’ trust and follow the law. This is essential as 42% of us count on companies to safeguard our info. Protecting PII should be a major part of every organization’s security plan.³

What is PII in Cyber Security

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is personal data. It can identify someone uniquely. This info includes names, Social Security Numbers, addresses, and more.⁴ It must be kept safe. If it falls into the wrong hands, it can be used for stealing identity and fraud.³ Companies that gather customer details must protect this data well. They have both legal and moral duties to do so.

Definition of Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

PII is any data that hints at a person’s identity. It could be directly or indirectly. This is according to NIST SP 800-79-2.⁴ Examples of PII include names, Social Security Numbers, birthdates, and much more. This kind of data is unique to one person or ID’d when linked with other personal info.⁴

Such data as biometric records, financial details, and health history are also PII. They can be used alone or with other info to spot one person.

Types of PII: Sensitive and Non-Sensitive

PII can be sensitive or not sensitive. Non-sensitive PII, like names and emails, doesn’t carry as much risk if exposed. But sensitive PII, such as SSNs and health data, can be very dangerous if seen by the wrong people.³ This private data needs extra care. It should be encrypted when shared or kept in storage.

Examples of Sensitive PII

Full names (if uncommon), Social Security Numbers, and birthdates are sensitive PII. So are credit card details, driver’s license numbers, and passwords. Even things like genetic data count as very sensitive info.⁴ To keep this from the bad guys, stringent security measures must be in place. Unauthorized access should be strictly prevented.

Importance of Protecting PII

Sharing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) can be very risky. It can lead to problems like identity theft, financial fraud, and blackmail. Criminals often misuse this info to do illegal things, like opening fake accounts. They might even steal your money this way.⁵ If a lot of PII is leaked, trust in the affected groups goes down. They may also have to pay big fines.⁶

Risks of PII Exposure

A 2021 IBM report said that of all data stolen, PII was both the most common and the most expensive to lose. It was found in 44% of breaches and cost about $180 for each piece snatched.⁵ One way to know if info is sensitive is to see if it can easily be found in public places. If it can, it’s probably not safe on its own.⁵ The Ponemon Institute also found that losing data with PII can cost a lot. On average, each piece costs $150 to replace. They estimated the total average cost at $146 per record.⁶ In 80% of attacks, the goal was to steal PII. This shows how often cyber thieves target this kind of info.⁶

Regulatory Compliance and Data Privacy Laws

Companies that handle PII have to follow many rules and laws. These include laws like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR.⁵ HIPAA protects health and financial details in the U.S. It requires strong tech safety from healthcare providers.⁵ Places like banks must meet strict standards to avoid large fines.⁵ Not keeping up with these rules can be very costly. It shows why it’s so crucial to keep customer data safe.

Small businesses need to be especially careful with PII. One mistake here can cause a lot of harm. This is why training for workers is so critical.⁶ Cyber thieves, in many cases, trick people into giving up their logins. This happens a lot with remote workers.⁵ Having a full plan that focuses on securing and handling data is essential for any business.⁵

To fight the intricate schemes of cybercriminals, a good plan to stop phishing is a must. Encryption plays a major role in keeping data safe. This applies both when it’s stored and when it’s moving around.⁵ Adding an extra security step, like two-step checks, can really help. It makes it harder for data to be compromised.⁵ Making sure all staff knows how to stay safe online is key to reducing the risk of PII leaks and other online dangers.⁵

Conclusion

In our digital world, keeping Personally Identifiable Information (PII) safe is vital. PII covers a lot of important personal data. This includes things like names, Social Security numbers, and even biometric info. This info can easily single out a person.⁷ If PII gets out, it can cause a ton of problems. Things like identity theft, fraud, and privacy invasion are just some risks.⁷,⁸

Organizations need to fight back against these dangers. They can do this by putting strong cybersecurity in place. This also means following rules closely and making sure everyone values privacy and security.⁷ Some key steps include encrypting data, controlling who has access, and only keeping what you really need. They also need to check things often, teach their staff, and plan for when things go wrong.⁷,⁸ By making a real effort to protect PII, companies keep their clients safe and keep their trust. They also meet the demands of new privacy laws like the GDPR and CCPA.⁷

The need to guard PII is growing as technology moves ahead. Companies that make privacy a main concern and have really good cybersecurity are ready for the future. They can keep their clients’ important info safe and stay ahead in their industry.⁷,⁸

Source Links

1. https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-reference/personal-identifiable-information
2. https://www.dol.gov/general/ppii
3. https://www.imperva.com/learn/data-security/personally-identifiable-information-pii/
4. https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/PII
5. https://emeritus.org/blog/cybersecurity-what-is-pii-in-cybersecurity/
6. https://www.zdnet.com/paid-content/article/what-is-pii-and-why-is-it-important/
7. https://k3techs.com/what-is-pii-in-cyber-security/
8. https://www.educative.io/answers/what-is-pii-in-cyber-security