What should a risk practitioner primarily consider to determine the level of protection for personally identifiable information?

What should a risk practitioner primarily consider to determine the level of protection for personally identifiable information?

• A. Source
• B. Cost
• C. Sensitivity
• D. Validity

Answer: (C)

The primary consideration for determining the level of protection for personally identifiable information (PII) should be its sensitivity. Sensitivity refers to the degree of risk posed by the exposure or loss of that information. PII often includes data such as social security numbers, financial information, and health records, which, if compromised, could lead to serious consequences like identity theft or privacy violations. Understanding the sensitivity of the data helps risk practitioners assess how much protection is necessary. More sensitive information typically requires stricter controls and safeguards to mitigate potential risks associated with unauthorized access or disclosure. This risk assessment is aligned with regulatory compliance requirements and best practices for data protection. While factors like source, cost, and validity could also influence how information is handled and protected, they do not inherently determine the necessary level of security. Source may indicate where the information originated, but it doesn't address the intrinsic risk posed by the data itself. Cost considerations are essential for a practical approach to implementation but should not override the priority given to sensitive information. Lastly, validity relates more to the accuracy of the data rather than its protection requirements. Hence, sensitivity is the most critical factor in defining the protections needed for PII.

The primary consideration for determining the level of protection for personally identifiable information (PII) should be its sensitivity. Sensitivity refers to the degree of risk posed by the exposure or loss of that information. PII often includes data such as social security numbers, financial information, and health records, which, if compromised, could lead to serious consequences like identity theft or privacy violations.

Understanding the sensitivity of the data helps risk practitioners assess how much protection is necessary. More sensitive information typically requires stricter controls and safeguards to mitigate potential risks associated with unauthorized access or disclosure. This risk assessment is aligned with regulatory compliance requirements and best practices for data protection.

While factors like source, cost, and validity could also influence how information is handled and protected, they do not inherently determine the necessary level of security. Source may indicate where the information originated, but it doesn't address the intrinsic risk posed by the data itself. Cost considerations are essential for a practical approach to implementation but should not override the priority given to sensitive information. Lastly, validity relates more to the accuracy of the data rather than its protection requirements. Hence, sensitivity is the most critical factor in defining the protections needed for PII.