An Introductory Guide To Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Personally identifiable information, or PII, is a critical aspect of our modern data-driven life, encompassing the various data points that can identify an individual. From names and addresses to employment histories and financial records, safeguarding this sensitive information is paramount in an era of rampant cyber-attacks and identity thefts.

A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that 64% of Americans have experienced a major data breach exposing their sensitive details. Understanding the risks and taking proactive measures to protect one's identifying information has become a necessity in today's digital landscape. So, how can you do it?

Well, we will talk about why it is vital to protect PII and how to protect it. Before that, let’s understand what PII really means!
 

Understanding Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Personally identifiable information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify a specific individual. This includes obvious things like your name, address, email, phone number and identification numbers. It also includes information that could indirectly point back to you, such as your job, birthdate, interests, and online behavior.

Many companies are also collecting and storing people's personal information these days. If this data gets stolen or leaked, you could become a victim of identity theft or other cybercrimes. That's why it's crucial to protect personal information and be aware of the information companies are collecting. We’ll be talking more about that but first, let’s understand the types of PII.
 

Types Of Personally Identifiable Information

Not all personal information is considered personally identifiable information. PII specifically refers to data that can be used to identify a particular individual. For example, details about someone's streaming habits alone would not count as PII since that data can't pinpoint their identity.

However, within PII, there are types that are considered more sensitive than others. Sensitive PII directly identifies someone and could cause significant harm if leaked or stolen. Social security numbers are a prime example, as criminals with access to this data can easily commit identity theft by accessing financial accounts and records tied to that account. Other examples of sensitive PII include biometric data like fingerprints, financial information such as bank account details, medical records and government IDs.

On the other hand, non-sensitive PII is personal data that would not directly enable harm if exposed, though it could still identify someone. This might include a first name, phone number, email address or employment details. This type of PII may be publicly available but could still be misused when combined with other non-sensitive details to piece together identifying information.

This leads us to the next segment of this article. Why is it essential to secure this information, be it sensitive or non-sensitive?
 

Why Is Protecting PII Important?

Protecting our personally identifiable information (PII) is crucial in today's digital age. From our name and birthdate to financial records and social security numbers, this sensitive data could wreak havoc if it falls into the wrong hands.

Imagine a criminal getting ahold of your PII. With just a few key details like your social security number and birthdate, they could open fake bank accounts and credit cards in your name or even drain funds from your existing ones. Even worse, they could use your medical data to maliciously impact your health records and insurance as well.


The threats are not limited to just individuals, by the way. Major corporations and governments have also fallen victim to data breaches exposing millions of people's PII. The legal nightmares and loss of consumer trust can cripple an organization's reputation and operations for years.

In our modern landscape of cloud computing, remote work and third-party vendors, protecting the endless flow of personal data has become an enormous challenge. That is why prioritizing robust data protection to safeguard PII has become an absolute must in today's world.

You might ask – how to protect it? Don’t worry; we have got your back – read on!
 

How To Protect PII?

Protecting personally identifiable information is crucial for safeguarding privacy and preventing data breaches, benefiting individuals and organizations alike. Here are the best practices to follow to protect personally identifiable information:
 

• Encrypt Personal Data

  Protecting personal information starts with encryption. Use robust authentication methods like two-factor authentication or biometrics to restrict access to personal data. Encrypting the data ensures it remains secure, even if it gets intercepted by someone unauthorized.

• Adopt Better Security Practices

  Everyone in your organization needs to understand data privacy and security through regular training sessions. These should cover proper protocols for handling personal information, identifying threats such as phishing attempts and maintaining best security practices when dealing with PII.

• Prepare For Incidents

  You must have monitoring systems in place to detect any suspicious activities that could indicate someone is trying to improperly access or steal personal data. At the same time, be prepared with a standardized, well-rehearsed incident response plan if a data breach occurs.

• Mask Sensitive Data

  A good rule is to only collect the absolute minimum personal information you need for legitimate business purposes. However, when you do have tons of PII, use data masking to replace PII with fictional but realistic data when performing non-production operations.

• Keep Systems Updated

  Make sure you keep all systems, applications and security software updated with the latest patches and fixes. Use data loss prevention tools to continuously monitor for potential leaks of personal information from your systems. Also, turn on auto-update security settings for all devices to ensure a high standard of security.

 

To Conclude

You see, in today’s time, safeguarding PII is very important. From the financial havoc caused by identity theft to damaged reputations from data breaches – the consequences of losing PII are devastating. Individuals and organizations alike must prioritize PII protection through robust policies, access controls, monitoring and a security-conscious mindset.

Remember, “privacy is not for sale” - so step up your data security game and secure personally identifiable information (PII) for everyone’s benefit!