• Support
  • Login
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Support
  • Login
  • Contact
  • Blog
SecurityScorecard SecurityScorecard
  • Products
    PRODUCTS
    • Security Ratings
      Identify security strengths across ten risk factors.
    • Security Data
      Get actionable, data-based insights.
    • Security Assessments
      Automate security questionnaire exchange.
    • Attack Surface Intelligence
      NEW
      On-demand contextualized global threat intelligence.
    • Automatic Vendor Detection
      Uncover your third and fourth party vendors.
    • Cyber Risk Quantification
      Translate cyber risk into financial impact.
    • Reporting Center
      Streamline cyber risk reporting.
    • SecurityScorecard Marketplace
      Discover and deploy pre-built integrations.
    SERVICES
    • Active Security Services
      Test your security controls.
    • Cyber Risk Intelligence
      Partner to obtain meaningful threat intelligence.
    • Digital Forensics & Incident Response
      Prepare to respond to any threat.
    • Third-Party Risk Management
      Reduce risk across your vendor ecosystem.
    BUY NOW
    • Compare All Plans
      Choose a plan that's right for your business.
    • Try Free Account
      Make informed decisions with confidence.
    • Buy Pro Now
      Add automated event responses.
    • Buy Business Now
      Expand on Pro with vendor management and integrations.
    • Request Enterprise Demo
      See the capabilities of an enterprise plan in action.
    icon__SSClogoMark icon__SSClogoMark

    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.

    Free account sign up
  • Solutions
    BY USE CASE
    • Compliance
    • Cyber Insurance
    • Digital Forensics
    • Due Diligence
    • Enterprise Cyber Risk
    • Executive-Level Reporting
    • Incident Response
    • Regulatory Oversight
    • Third-Party Risk
    BY INDUSTRY
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Financial Services
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Insurance
    • Retail & Consumer
    • Technology
    Help your organization calculate its risk
    View All Solutions
  • Customers
    OUR CUSTOMERS
    • Customer Overview
      Trusted by companies of all industries and sizes.
    • Peer Reviews
      Find out what our customers are saying.
    SUCCESS AND SUPPORT
    • Customer Success
      Receive award-winning customer service.
    • Support
      Get your questions answered by our experts.
    COMMUNITY
    • SecurityScorecard Connect
      Engage in fun, educational, and rewarding activities.
    • Connect Login
      Join our exclusive online customer community.
    icon__SSClogoMark icon__SSClogoMark
    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.
    Free account sign up
  • Partners

    Partner Program Overview

    Partner with SecurityScorecard and leverage our global cybersecurity ratings leadership to expand your solution, deliver more value, and win new business.

    Learn more
    • Locate a Partner
      Access our industry-leading partner network.
    • Value-Added Resellers
      Enter new markets, deliver more value, and get rewarded.
    • Managed Service Providers
      Meet customer needs with cybersecurity ratings.
    • ISAC Partner Program
      Learn more about the industries we support and ISAC member benefits.
    • Technology Alliances
      Access innovative solutions from leading providers.
    • SCORE Portal Login
      Use the SCORE Partner Program to grow your business.
    • SecurityScorecard Marketplace
      Find a trusted solution that extends your SecurityScorecard experience.

    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.

    Free account sign up
  • Resources
    RESOURCES
    • Resource Center
      Explore our cybersecurity ebooks, data sheets, webinars, and more.
    • SecurityScorecard Blog
      Read the latest blog posts published weekly.
    • Research & Insights Center
      Access our research on the latest industry trends and sector developments.
    • SecurityScorecard Academy
      NEW
      Complete certification courses and earn industry-recognized badges.
    TOOLS AND DOCUMENTATION
    • Free Security Rating
      Get your free ratings report with customized security score.
    • Product Release Notes
      Visit our support portal for the latest release notes.
    • Free Account Signup
      Start monitoring your cybersecurity posture today.
    • Chrome Extension
      NEW
      Show the security rating of websites you visit.
    • Assessments ROI Calculator
      Calculate the ROI of automating questionnaires.
    Trust begins with transparency. Take a look at the data that drives our ratings.
    Learn more
  • Company

    Working at SecurityScorecard

    Committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and collaboration–and having fun while doing it.

    Join our team
    • About Us
      SecurityScorecard is the global leader in cybersecurity ratings.
    • Leadership
      Meet the team that is making the world a safer place.
    • Press
      Explore our most recent press releases and coverage.
    • Events
      Join us at any of these upcoming industry events.
    • Policy Insights
      Raising the bar on cybersecurity with security ratings.
    • Careers
      APPLY TODAY
      Come join the SecurityScorecard team!
    • Contact Us
      Contact us with any questions, concerns, or thoughts.
    • Trust Portal
      Take an inside look at the data that drives our technology.
    • Help Center
      We are here to help with any questions or difficulties.
Request a demo
SecurityScorecard SecurityScorecard
  • Support
  • Login
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Support
  • Login
  • Contact
  • Blog
SecurityScorecard SecurityScorecard
  • Products
    PRODUCTS
    • Security Ratings
      Identify security strengths across ten risk factors.
    • Security Data
      Get actionable, data-based insights.
    • Security Assessments
      Automate security questionnaire exchange.
    • Attack Surface Intelligence
      NEW
      On-demand contextualized global threat intelligence.
    • Automatic Vendor Detection
      Uncover your third and fourth party vendors.
    • Cyber Risk Quantification
      Translate cyber risk into financial impact.
    • Reporting Center
      Streamline cyber risk reporting.
    • SecurityScorecard Marketplace
      Discover and deploy pre-built integrations.
    SERVICES
    • Active Security Services
      Test your security controls.
    • Cyber Risk Intelligence
      Partner to obtain meaningful threat intelligence.
    • Digital Forensics & Incident Response
      Prepare to respond to any threat.
    • Third-Party Risk Management
      Reduce risk across your vendor ecosystem.
    BUY NOW
    • Compare All Plans
      Choose a plan that's right for your business.
    • Try Free Account
      Make informed decisions with confidence.
    • Buy Pro Now
      Add automated event responses.
    • Buy Business Now
      Expand on Pro with vendor management and integrations.
    • Request Enterprise Demo
      See the capabilities of an enterprise plan in action.
    icon__SSClogoMark icon__SSClogoMark

    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.

    Free account sign up
  • Solutions
    BY USE CASE
    • Compliance
    • Cyber Insurance
    • Digital Forensics
    • Due Diligence
    • Enterprise Cyber Risk
    • Executive-Level Reporting
    • Incident Response
    • Regulatory Oversight
    • Third-Party Risk
    BY INDUSTRY
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Financial Services
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Insurance
    • Retail & Consumer
    • Technology
    Help your organization calculate its risk
    View All Solutions
  • Customers
    OUR CUSTOMERS
    • Customer Overview
      Trusted by companies of all industries and sizes.
    • Peer Reviews
      Find out what our customers are saying.
    SUCCESS AND SUPPORT
    • Customer Success
      Receive award-winning customer service.
    • Support
      Get your questions answered by our experts.
    COMMUNITY
    • SecurityScorecard Connect
      Engage in fun, educational, and rewarding activities.
    • Connect Login
      Join our exclusive online customer community.
    icon__SSClogoMark icon__SSClogoMark
    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.
    Free account sign up
  • Partners

    Partner Program Overview

    Partner with SecurityScorecard and leverage our global cybersecurity ratings leadership to expand your solution, deliver more value, and win new business.

    Learn more
    • Locate a Partner
      Access our industry-leading partner network.
    • Value-Added Resellers
      Enter new markets, deliver more value, and get rewarded.
    • Managed Service Providers
      Meet customer needs with cybersecurity ratings.
    • ISAC Partner Program
      Learn more about the industries we support and ISAC member benefits.
    • Technology Alliances
      Access innovative solutions from leading providers.
    • SCORE Portal Login
      Use the SCORE Partner Program to grow your business.
    • SecurityScorecard Marketplace
      Find a trusted solution that extends your SecurityScorecard experience.

    Understand and reduce risk with SecurityScorecard.

    Free account sign up
  • Resources
    RESOURCES
    • Resource Center
      Explore our cybersecurity ebooks, data sheets, webinars, and more.
    • SecurityScorecard Blog
      Read the latest blog posts published weekly.
    • Research & Insights Center
      Access our research on the latest industry trends and sector developments.
    • SecurityScorecard Academy
      NEW
      Complete certification courses and earn industry-recognized badges.
    TOOLS AND DOCUMENTATION
    • Free Security Rating
      Get your free ratings report with customized security score.
    • Product Release Notes
      Visit our support portal for the latest release notes.
    • Free Account Signup
      Start monitoring your cybersecurity posture today.
    • Chrome Extension
      NEW
      Show the security rating of websites you visit.
    • Assessments ROI Calculator
      Calculate the ROI of automating questionnaires.
    Trust begins with transparency. Take a look at the data that drives our ratings.
    Learn more
  • Company

    Working at SecurityScorecard

    Committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and collaboration–and having fun while doing it.

    Join our team
    • About Us
      SecurityScorecard is the global leader in cybersecurity ratings.
    • Leadership
      Meet the team that is making the world a safer place.
    • Press
      Explore our most recent press releases and coverage.
    • Events
      Join us at any of these upcoming industry events.
    • Policy Insights
      Raising the bar on cybersecurity with security ratings.
    • Careers
      APPLY TODAY
      Come join the SecurityScorecard team!
    • Contact Us
      Contact us with any questions, concerns, or thoughts.
    • Trust Portal
      Take an inside look at the data that drives our technology.
    • Help Center
      We are here to help with any questions or difficulties.
Request a demo
SecurityScorecard SecurityScorecard
BLOG

How to Secure Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

02/09/2022

PII, or Personally Identifiable Information, is any information that directly or indirectly identifies an individual, such as name, address, payment information, or contact information. The U.S. The Department of Homeland Security defines a second category of PII: Sensitive PII, which includes Social Security Numbers, driver’s license numbers, Alien Registration numbers, financial or medical records, biometrics, and criminal history.

Why do criminals want your PII?

PII is especially attractive to cybercriminals, who can steal and sell PII on the black market. It’s a lucrative business, criminals use PII to pay their bills with someone else’s money, create false accounts, take out false credit cards, or even engage in blackmail or extortion. Health records can also be used to receive treatment under someone else’s name, make insurance claims, and obtain prescriptions.

It’s not surprising that PII is being targeted — it’s extremely valuable. A recent investigative report found that criminals are making a lot of money for specific sorts of payment and social media data. A hacked Gmail account goes for $80 in 2021, while a cloned Mastercard and PIN might just go for $25. Paypal transfers of specific amounts from compromised accounts are worth hundreds, while other types of PII, like passport data, are worth thousands.

In fact, the Ponemon Institute found that PII is the most common sort of data stolen in data breaches over the last year. It’s also the costliest kind of record, at $180 a record.

Losing your customers’ PII can cost you something else as well — your reputation. Once customers feel they can’t trust you with their data, they might be wary of doing business with you. That’s why securing PII is so important.

12 tips for securing PII

1. Know your obligations for PII compliance

Are you legally required to meet certain standards when it comes to PII? You likely are, especially if you do business with any resident of the European Union. GDPR or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out several rules for storing, protecting, and disposing of personal data. Depending on where you do business, and on your industry, you may be required to meet other standards, like CCPA (the California Consumer Privacy Act), or HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). These standards will put forth a list of controls you need to have in place in order to be compliant.

2. Thoroughly vet your third parties

Third parties are almost always a target of bad actors and cybercriminals, often because they store or process PII for their clients. When third parties are breached, however, the consequences still fall on you, so be sure you thoroughly examine their security controls during onboarding.

3. Know your PII

What PII is your company storing? Are you storing customers’ names, addresses, payment information, or any other information that might identify them? Are you asking for only what you need, or do you have information that’s superfluous? Be aware of what you have.

4. Know where PII is kept

Sometimes PII doesn’t live in one location. It might be stored in different clouds, across different departments, or even on different devices. Consider healthcare organizations, which keep payment information in one department’s database, while biometrics and medical data may be stored in other databases and devices. What data is being used? What data is being stored? And what data is in motion?

5. Know your most sensitive PII

Not all PII is created equal. Some, like social security numbers, are far more important. Classify your data so you can create a PII protection plan. How can you tell which data is more sensitive than others? Consider this question: can you immediately identify a person with just this information? If so, that data is highly sensitive.

6. Delete PII you no longer need

If you don’t need it, don’t keep it. The last thing you want is a data breach in which you’ve lost sensitive information you didn’t even need to store. If you don’t have it, no one can steal it from you.

7. Know how you’ll handle departing employees

Create a policy that governs how your departing employees handle PII. Do they still have access to PII? How and when will you remove their access to PII? Also, ensure they know the legal penalties for violating your PII policies (just in case they’re tempted to take some sensitive data with them.)

8. Make it easy for employees to report suspicious behavior

Sometimes breaches come from inside the company rather than outside. If one of your employees notices that something is going on with a coworker (maybe that coworker is stealing and selling PII) offer an easy and non-threatening way for them to report that information to you.

9. Put an Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP) in place

Do you know who has access to your data? Do they know who can access it and what it can be used for? An AUP is a way to outline who should have access to PII and what they can do with it.

10. Encrypt PII

Unencrypted PII is a breach waiting to happen, especially if that data is in transit, moving from a device to the cloud, or the other way round. Always use strong encryption on your PII.

11. Don’t give more permissions to users than they need

If an employee or a third-party doesn’t need access to PII, don’t grant them access. While many breaches are caused by malicious attacks, many more are caused by insiders, often by accident. If an employee doesn’t have access to certain data, they can’t accidentally share it.

12. Protecting PII is everyone’s job

Make sure your employees and third parties know what PII is, how it should be stored, and when it should be disposed of. Train them to spot suspicious activity and teach them how to respond if they notice a breach.

How can SecurityScorecard help?

These days, every organization is in the data business, no matter what product or service they actually produce. By protecting your customers’ PII, you’re protecting both them and your organization from the predations of cybercriminals.

SecurityScorecard’s ratings help you see, at a glance, the strength of your security controls as well as those of your third parties and partners. Our scores are based on an A-F scoring scale that quickly shows you where vulnerabilities have been detected and which need to be prioritized first. Our ratings cover a variety of security factors, like endpoint security, network vulnerabilities, and patching cadence. By being able to identify your organization’s weaknesses at a glance, you can keep your customers’ PII safe and secure.

Return to Blog
Join us in making the world a safer place.
FREE ACCOUNT SIGN UP
Products
Solutions
Customers
Marketplace
Partners
Resources
Company
Trust Portal
Security Ratings
Login
Blog
Contact
Careers

SecurityScorecard
Tower 49
12 E 49th St
Suite 15-100
New York, NY 10017

[email protected]

United States: (800) 682-1701
International: +1(646) 809-2166
Social-linkedin Social-facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube