Overview of PII and redaction
PII refers to any data that can be used to identify an individual, either directly or indirectly, when combined with other information. PII includes data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and credit card numbers. It is critical to protect PII due to privacy concerns, as well as legal and regulatory requirements that dictate how companies should manage and secure such data.
Redaction, in the context of data privacy, is the process of removing or obscuring sensitive information from documents, logs, and other data sources, so the remaining data can be shared or analyzed without exposing the PII. This involves techniques such as masking, pseudonymization, or encryption, depending on the context and requirements. The goal of redaction is to strike a balance between preserving the utility of the data and maintaining the privacy of the individuals involved.
