Did you know that 76% of organizations have less than 10 employees working on data protection and privacy?
With the recent data breaches at LastPass and Uber, putting consumer data privacy at the forefront remains one of the top priorities for many businesses – but what exactly is PII scanning? How does it fit into your overall customer data protection strategy?
Keep reading to find out.
What is PII scanning?
PII scanning, or personal identification information scanning, is a process that involves scanning data sources for personal information that could potentially be used for identity theft or other cyber crimes.
This can include names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, and financial information. PII scanning is typically performed by software programs or specialized tools designed to detect and flag this sensitive information for further review and protection.
According to a recent study, the number of cyber attacks on businesses has increased significantly, with 43% of all cyber attacks targeting small businesses. While there are regulations in place around the world to recuperate the losses from privacy breaches, taking a proactive approach through PII scanning is always recommended.
You might be wondering for whom is a PII scanning tool intended for?
This type of software is recommended for companies that stores personal and sensitive information and want to comply with international data security standards that require you to locate and secure PII.
Auditors, IT security, DPOs, and other stakeholders would be the ones who benefit from this tool. You must also keep elements of your competitors’ own PII scanning in mind when conducting competitive intelligence research. Overall, it’s essential to respect all consumers’ information and adhere to the right protocols.
Why is PII scanning important?
PII breaches can quickly generate news and can be very detrimental to business organizations.
If you Google “sony PlayStation security breach”, you’ll see a flurry of angry customers, legal action, and actual sales and market share losses. The bulk of Sony’s online players, fortunately, devoted to the company, swarmed back as soon as the network was restored a month later.
Will your customers be as understanding if their PII is compromised?
First and foremost, cyber-attacks and digital crimes are on the rise. This trend will likely continue as cybercriminals constantly find new ways to access and exploit sensitive data. PII scanning can help businesses to identify and protect the sensitive personal information that cyber criminals could target.
According to recently published Federal Trade Commission data, consumers lost more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021. A large amount of this pointed to imposter schemes which led to $2.3 billion of consumer losses that same year. These numbers are proof that consumers need to be on the lookout for suspicious activity when online.
As a business owner, it is not only your ethical responsibility to protect the personal information of your customers; it is also a legal requirement in many industries and regions. Companies that fail to safeguard personal information can face fines, legal action, and damage to their reputation which makes legal compliance all the more essential while protecting customers’ trust.
More and more, customers are becoming aware of how their personal information is being collected and used by companies and demand more transparency about their data collection and protection practices. Privacy-enhancing technologies like PII scanning can help companies reduce consumer anxiety about the security of their personal information and put consumers at ease.
How PII scanning fits in customer data protection
PII scanning is an integral cog in customer protection strategy. By helping to identify the PII you collect from customers, adhering to industry regulations, keeping your business compliant, and creating a secure lifecycle of data absorption within your business.
Identifying the PII you collect
One of the first steps in protecting customer data is to identify what personal information you collect and where it is stored.
PII scanning can help you to identify and locate personal information, including information collected through online forms, email correspondence, and in-person interactions.
This is an essential step in ensuring that you have a complete and accurate picture of your data landscape and can take the necessary steps to protect it.
Checking your industry & region’s data regulations
Data regulations can vary depending on your industry and region, and it is important to ensure that you comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
PII scanning can help you to identify personal information that may be subject to specific regulations, such as financial information or health records. It can help you follow all necessary protocols for handling and storing this sensitive data.
Maintaining internal compliance
In addition to complying with external regulations, it is vital to maintain internal compliance within your organization. This can involve establishing protocols for handling and storing personal information and training employees on best practices for data security.
PII scanning can help you to identify areas where your internal processes may not be fully compliant and ensure you take steps to improve your data protection practices. For example, you can use PII scanning software to locate and remove sensitive customer data in emails before they are sent outside the company to external vendors or third parties. This makes sure customer data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Establishing your PII lifecycle
A PII lifecycle outlines how personal information is collected, used, and disposed of. Establishing a PII lifecycle can help you ensure that personal information is collected and used for legitimate purposes and is adequately protected and disposed of.
PII scanning can help you identify personal information — like social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, credit card numbers, and other data that can be used to commit identity theft. You’d want to include all of these in your PII lifecycle. It can help you ensure you follow all steps to protect and dispose of this information.
Start PII scanning today
The accessibility to personal data and information is an issue that continues to gain prominence and recognition on a global scale, most recently by the OECD. PII scanning is essential for businesses looking to protect their customers’ personal information. With cyber attacks and identity theft on the rise, it is more important than ever for companies to invest in the right tools and strategies to protect their data.
With routine PII scanning, companies can now identify where they are lagging in terms of data security and will be able to make a fix accordingly. You can establish effective data protection plans and improve employee training, remaining compliant with industry data regulations while keeping your customers’ best interests at heart.
Now, over to you to start integrating PII scanning into your cybersecurity frameworks today.
