Most businesses collect personal information from their customers. This information can include names, addresses, birthdates, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license numbers. This information is considered personal identifiable information (PII).

PII can be used to commit identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. It’s important for businesses to understand how to protect PII and to have procedures in place to prevent its unauthorized use.

There are a few key ways businesses can collect PII:

• Online forms: Many businesses have online forms that collect PII from customers and employees. This information is typically stored in a database.

• Paper forms: Many businesses also use paper forms to collect PII. This information is typically stored in files or folders.

• Email: Email is another common way businesses collect PII. This information is typically stored in email accounts or on email servers.

• Phone calls: Phone calls are another common way businesses collect PII. This information is typically stored in call logs or on voicemail systems.

Businesses should take steps to protect the PII they collect. A few ways to do this include:

• encrypting PII

• storing PII in secure locations

• restricting access to PII

• destroying PII when it’s no longer needed

• training employees on how to protect PII It’s also important for businesses to have procedures in place to prevent the unauthorized use of PII.

A few steps businesses can take include:

• requiring employees to use strong passwords

• requiring employees to use two-factor authentication

• monitoring for unauthorized access to PII

• having a incident response plan for data breaches

Businesses should take steps to protect the PII they collect and to prevent its unauthorized use. By doing so, they can help protect their customers and employees from identity theft, fraud, and other crimes, while also helping ensure they don’t get fined.

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Photo by Angela Roma