In today’s technology-driven economy, companies across all industries store large amount of their clients’ information. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is extremely valuable for cyber terrorists, and without the proper protection, businesses are prime target for cyber terrorists.

While stories of cyber-attacks in the news focus on large corporation hacks like Target and Equifax, small businesses are attacked every day.

What is Personally Identifiable Information?

In short, PII is any information that can be used to identify one person. Examples of PII include:

• Full name
• Social security number
• Home address
• Date of birth
• Credit card numbers
• Passport number
• Driver’s license number
• Phone number and much more

Protecting Personally Identifiable Information

Because this information is extremely valuable to cyber attackers, it is critical to protect your business and your customers’ data.

Ways to protect PII:

• Limit Collection – Evaluate the types and amount of data you collect. While collecting email addresses may be a good way to keep your clients informed about your operation, you may not need their address and phone number along with it.
• Assess Data Quality – Keep your data accurate and up-to-date. If you collect customer emails, use them. If you don’t use them, don’t collect them.
• Install Proper Security Measures – Use file and email encryption, password requirements, virtual private networks (VPN) and more. Educate your staff on cyber risk and the importance of security measures.
• Implement a Response Plan – Have a plan in place to limit damage and reduce cost and recovery time in the event of an attack.
• Consider Insurance – Look into various insurance policies for coverage to help mitigate loss from a variety of cyber incidents.

To learn more about Personally Identifiable Information, contact Lockton Affinity at info@locktonaffinity.com or 913.652.7500.