The act of examining employee files that hold Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and subsequently becoming aware of something noteworthy initiates a specific process. This might involve observing inconsistencies, potential security breaches, or non-compliance issues within the data. For example, during a routine audit of employee files, an administrator might discover an employee’s social security number is unencrypted, triggering an immediate security protocol response.
The significance of such an observation lies in its potential to prevent or mitigate harm. Early detection of anomalies in PII handling can safeguard individuals from identity theft, protect the organization from legal repercussions (such as GDPR violations), and maintain public trust. Historically, failures to adequately protect PII have resulted in significant financial losses and reputational damage for numerous organizations.
