PII vs. Personal Data: What’s the Difference?

We live in a world where technology is constantly advancing. With this advancement comes new ways for our personal confidential and sensitive information to be compromised. From credit card numbers to social security numbers, our personal information is valuable to hackers and identity thieves. By protecting our personal information, we can reduce the risk of becoming a victim of identity theft or fraud.

What Is PII?

What is considered PII and why is protecting PII so important?

When it comes to personally identifiable information (PII), there is a lot of ambiguity surrounding the term. This is because PII can refer to a wide range of data points, both big and small. Generally speaking, PII refers to any information that could potentially be used to identify an individual.

This might include anything from a person’s name and address to their Social Security number or driver’s license number. It can also include less obvious data points, like date of birth or credit score. In short, any bit of information that could be used to uniquely identify someone falls under the category of PII.

There are a few reasons why PII is so important. For one thing, it can be used by identity thieves to commit fraud. Additionally, PII can also be used by companies for marketing purposes.

What Is Personal Data?

Okay, so what is personal data and what information does it cover?

Data can be classified into two types: public and private. Public data is information that is available to anyone who wants to see it, such as the name of a company or the addresses of its shareholders. Private data, on the other hand, is information that is kept confidential and is not released to the public. This includes information about an individual’s health, finances, and contact information.

Personal data is a type of private data that refers specifically to information about an individual. It can include anything from a person’s name and address to their social security number and bank account details. Personal data is often collected by companies in order to better understand their customers and target them with relevant advertising.

There are a number of ways for individuals to protect their personal data. One of the most important things people can do is be aware of how much personal information they are sharing online.

How Is PII Different From Personal Data?

And how does PII differ from Personal Data?

When most people think of personal data, they think of PII. However, there is a distinction between the two that is often misunderstood. PII consists of any information that can be used to uniquely identify an individual. Personal data, on the other hand, refers to all other types of information about an individual. This can include contact information, medical records, financial records, and more.

The distinction between PII and personal data is important because different laws and regulations apply to each. For example, PII is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), while personal data is protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

How Should Organizations Handle PII and Personal Data?

The handling of personal data and the protection of sensitive information is a critical issue for all organizations. The safekeeping of personally identifiable information (PII) is essential to the security and privacy of individuals. There are a number of steps that organizations can take to protect PII.

One important step is to create a data protection policy, which should outline the procedures that the organization will follow to protect PII. The policy should also specify who is responsible for each step in the process and how often the policy will be reviewed.

Another important step is to secure the computer systems that store personal information. Organizational networks should be protected with firewalls and anti-virus software. Access to PII should be restricted to authorized personnel only. Organizations must also ensure that they are compliant with applicable data protection laws.

E-commerce also poses threats to private information. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, check out our posts on e-commerce privacy policies or privacy policies for Shopify.