Because of that, employment history and a dozen other data points like it are known as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) – and companies go to great lengths to protect them. And, as you likely already know, countries across the world even mandate it.

Known as PII compliance, it’s the practice of incorporating stringent security measures to discover, classify and protect sensitive data use across the enterprise to prevent mishandling or leaks. There’s over 150+ regions in the world that legally require businesses to protect PII, and their failure to do so can result in serious consequences that can tally up to millions of dollars.

Maintaining PII Security Compliance

What can companies do to meet these PII compliance requirements?

We’re glad you asked.

Data security and privacy is an ever-changing field, but there are some best practices that remain tried and true. These are often strung together by data security technologies that allow organizations to enforce their policies wherever users work.

Identify What Types of PII You Have

PII comes in all shapes and sizes. As a starting point, assess what types of information your organization has that could be used to identify someone if it got into the wrong hands. Common types include:

• Name
• Physical address
• Email address
• IP address
• Government ID numbers (Social Security and driver’s license)
• Date of birth
• Financial information (credit cards and bank accounts)
• Medical records
• Biometric data
• Phone number
• Employment history
• IP address
• Vehicle information

Data Discovery and Classification

Locating and categorizing data within your organization is fundamental to PII compliance. Implement data discovery scans to periodically assess the presence of sensitive information.

Forcepoint Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) can automatically identify and classify PII, ensuring comprehensive coverage across data repositories.

Implement Secure Data Infrastructure

Establish a robust data security infrastructure to safeguard PII effectively. Develop and enforce stringent access controls using a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Forcepoint ONE Data Security offers out-of-the-box policy templates that ensure compliance for over 150+ regions. It ensures that PII remains protected throughout its lifecycle, reducing the risk of data breaches and maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.

Create a Comprehensive PII Policy

Craft a detailed PII policy outlining the guidelines for handling, storing and processing sensitive data. These policies should include who gets access to what data, which applications that data can interact with and risk remediation scenarios.

By using a unified data security platform, you can enhance data governance, mitigate risks and demonstrate a proactive approach to PII compliance.

Conduct Regular Risk Assessments

Perform regular risk assessments to evaluate the vulnerabilities and threats to PII within your organization. These can come in the form of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) or insider threats.

CVEs are easier to remediate as vendors release patches to secure them, but insider threats aren’t as clear-cut. Utilize Forcepoint Risk-Adaptive Protection to identify potential risks and proactively address security gaps with real-time automation and policy adjustments.

By leveraging these advanced threat detection tools, you can stay ahead of evolving cyber threats, strengthen data protection measures and ensure ongoing compliance with PII regulations.

Train Employees on PII Handling

Educate employees on the proper handlin g and protection of PII through comprehensive training programs.

By empowering employees with the knowledge and skills to safeguard PII effectively, you can foster a culture of data security awareness, reduce human errors and strengthen your overall compliance posture.

Get Visibility and Control with Forcepoint

In a world where every detail matters, safeguarding PII becomes paramount.

It's crucial to embrace best practices that stand the test of time so you can fortify your data defenses and navigate the complexities of PII compliance and security confidently.

Get total visibility and control over your PII with Forcepoint. Our cutting-edge technologies empower organizations to enforce data security policies seamlessly, safeguard sensitive information at every touchpoint and maintain compliance across diverse regulatory landscapes.

Take the next step toward securing your data by exploring Forcepoint products and reaching out to our team of experts today.