Intrada continually tells all of our clients never to send personal, health, or financial information via email unless you encrypt your email. In other words, any data that needs to be protected (protected data) should never be emailed without encryption.
“People think email is a safe way to send information, but it isn’t,” says David Steele, co-owner of Intrada Technologies. “Email is not a secure way to transfer any information without encryption. Encryption is critical.”
Let’s first discuss what protected data is, then discuss encryption. Before we go into more information about protected data, do you remember what Intrada continually tells our clients to never do? Yes – you got it! Never, ever send personal, health, or financial information via email unless you encrypt your email.
What is Protected Data? Protected data is information about a person that a cybercriminal can use to carry out identity theft or illegal online activities.
Types of Protected Data
Personal Identifiable Information
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other information. This type of information is critical to the security and privacy of individuals, as its exposure or misuse can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other personal harms. PII includes a wide range of identifying details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, and biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition features.
Organizations that handle PII are responsible for implementing robust security measures to protect this data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other cyber threats. They must also ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and other local privacy laws. Managing PII securely involves practices like data encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and employee training on data privacy.
Safeguarding PII is not only a legal obligation but also fundamental to maintaining consumer trust and confidence. Companies that protect personal data effectively can enhance their reputation and foster stronger relationships with their customers, thereby contributing to long-term business success.
(PII
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other information. This type of information is critical to the security and privacy of individuals, as its exposure or misuse can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other personal harms. PII includes a wide range of identifying details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, and biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition features.
Organizations that handle PII are responsible for implementing robust security measures to protect this data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other cyber threats. They must also ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and other local privacy laws. Managing PII securely involves practices like data encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and employee training on data privacy.
Safeguarding PII is not only a legal obligation but also fundamental to maintaining consumer trust and confidence. Companies that protect personal data effectively can enhance their reputation and foster stronger relationships with their customers, thereby contributing to long-term business success.
) Personal Identifiable Information
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other information. This type of information is critical to the security and privacy of individuals, as its exposure or misuse can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other personal harms. PII includes a wide range of identifying details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, and biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition features.
Organizations that handle PII are responsible for implementing robust security measures to protect this data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other cyber threats. They must also ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and other local privacy laws. Managing PII securely involves practices like data encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and employee training on data privacy.
Safeguarding PII is not only a legal obligation but also fundamental to maintaining consumer trust and confidence. Companies that protect personal data effectively can enhance their reputation and foster stronger relationships with their customers, thereby contributing to long-term business success.
is any representation of information that permits the identity of an individual to whom the information applies to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means. It is the responsibility of the individual user to protect the data to which they have access. Examples include name, address, social security number or other identifying number or code, telephone number, or email address.
Protected Health Information (PHI) The HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a critical piece of legislation in the United States aimed at protecting sensitive patient health information. Enacted in 1996, HIPAA established comprehensive standards for the privacy and security of medical data, ensuring that healthcare providers, insurers, and other related entities handle patient information responsibly. The Act sets national standards for electronic health care transactions and addresses the security and privacy of health data. It is essential for organizations handling health information to comply with HIPAA regulations to safeguard patient privacy and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the data. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/index.html
Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. Demographic information, medical histories, test and laboratory results, mental health conditions, insurance information, and other data that a healthcare professional collects to identify an individual and determine appropriate can also be classified as personal health information.
Payment Card Information (PCI
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a framework established to ensure the security of credit, debit, and other payment card transactions and protect cardholders from misuse of their personal information. Developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), which was founded by major credit card companies including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB, PCI DSS provides a set of comprehensive data security requirements applicable to all entities involved in processing card payments.
The standard covers a broad array of security measures, including but not limited to managing network security, protecting cardholder data, maintaining a vulnerability management program, implementing strong access control measures, regularly monitoring and testing networks, and maintaining an information security policy. By adhering to PCI DSS, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks aimed at stealing payment card information.
Compliance with PCI DSS is mandatory for any organization that stores, processes, or transmits payment card data, regardless of size or number of transactions. The standard is divided into six major goals and 12 requirements, creating a structured approach to securing payment environments:
Build and Maintain a Secure Network and Systems
Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data.
Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.
Protect Cardholder Data
Protect stored cardholder data.
Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks.
Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
Protect all systems against malware and regularly update anti-virus software or programs.
Develop and maintain secure systems and applications.
Implement Strong Access Control Measures
Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know.
Identify and authenticate access to system components.
Restrict physical access to cardholder data.
Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data.
Regularly test security systems and processes.
Maintain an Information Security Policy
Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel.
Adhering to PCI DSS not only helps businesses protect sensitive data and foster customer trust but also aligns them with legal and regulatory requirements concerning data protection. Thus, the PCI DSS serves as a critical component in the overall cybersecurity strategy for any organization handling payment card transactions.
) Any representation of financial or account information. Examples include social security numbers, bank or other account numbers, and account numbers.
What is Email Encryption? Encrypting an email message is converting from readable plain text into scrambled cipher text. You would encrypt an email that contains any of the protected data mentioned above (PII
Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any data that can be used to identify a specific individual, either on its own or when combined with other information. This type of information is critical to the security and privacy of individuals, as its exposure or misuse can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and other personal harms. PII includes a wide range of identifying details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, and biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition features.
Organizations that handle PII are responsible for implementing robust security measures to protect this data from unauthorized access, breaches, and other cyber threats. They must also ensure compliance with relevant data protection regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States, and other local privacy laws. Managing PII securely involves practices like data encryption, access controls, regular security audits, and employee training on data privacy.
Safeguarding PII is not only a legal obligation but also fundamental to maintaining consumer trust and confidence. Companies that protect personal data effectively can enhance their reputation and foster stronger relationships with their customers, thereby contributing to long-term business success.
, PHI or PCI
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a framework established to ensure the security of credit, debit, and other payment card transactions and protect cardholders from misuse of their personal information. Developed by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC), which was founded by major credit card companies including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB, PCI DSS provides a set of comprehensive data security requirements applicable to all entities involved in processing card payments.
The standard covers a broad array of security measures, including but not limited to managing network security, protecting cardholder data, maintaining a vulnerability management program, implementing strong access control measures, regularly monitoring and testing networks, and maintaining an information security policy. By adhering to PCI DSS, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks aimed at stealing payment card information.
Compliance with PCI DSS is mandatory for any organization that stores, processes, or transmits payment card data, regardless of size or number of transactions. The standard is divided into six major goals and 12 requirements, creating a structured approach to securing payment environments:
Build and Maintain a Secure Network and Systems
Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data.
Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters.
Protect Cardholder Data
Protect stored cardholder data.
Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks.
Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
Protect all systems against malware and regularly update anti-virus software or programs.
Develop and maintain secure systems and applications.
Implement Strong Access Control Measures
Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know.
Identify and authenticate access to system components.
Restrict physical access to cardholder data.
Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data.
Regularly test security systems and processes.
Maintain an Information Security Policy
Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel.
Adhering to PCI DSS not only helps businesses protect sensitive data and foster customer trust but also aligns them with legal and regulatory requirements concerning data protection. Thus, the PCI DSS serves as a critical component in the overall cybersecurity strategy for any organization handling payment card transactions.
). Only the recipient who has the private key that matches the public key used to encrypt the message can decipher the message for reading. This is usually handled through an email portal that the receiving party needs to access to read the email message. When you need to protect the privacy of your email message, encrypt it.
And remember (just in case you didn’t read it the other two times where it was mentioned in this article) never, ever send personal, health, or financial information via email unless you encrypt your email.
If you need to send an encrypted email and do not know how, contact Intrada’s IT HELP DESK to learn more on how to safely send your protected information.
Nicole Keiner is a Senior Marketing Strategist for Intrada Technologies. Her responsibilities include developing and executing marketing and digital media marketing strategies for clients. Nicole has nearly two decades of experience in public relations, content development, digital media marketing, and event management for businesses of all shapes, sizes, and types.
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