(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What does PII stand for regarding personal information defined by NIST?

1. Personal Information Identifier

2. Personally Indicted Information

3. Personally Identifiable Information

4. Personalized Identity Information

The correct answer is: Personally Identifiable Information

The term PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which is the correct definition according to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) standards. PII refers to any information that, when used alone or in conjunction with other relevant data, can identify an individual. This can include names, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and even more subtle details like biometric data that are unique to a person. Understanding PII is crucial in the context of cybersecurity and data protection, as improper handling of such information can lead to privacy breaches and identity theft. NIST emphasizes the importance of correctly identifying and protecting PII as part of broader data security and privacy frameworks. The other definitions provided do not accurately reflect the established concept of PII within cybersecurity. Personal Information Identifier, for instance, could suggest a vague term that lacks the specificity of 'Personally Identifiable Information.' Similarly, Personally Indicted Information and Personalized Identity Information misinterpret the actual focus of PII related to individual identification and privacy concerns.