Definition of Confidential/Protected Information: Confidential or protected information encompasses any data that must be safeguarded from unauthorized access or disclosure to ensure its confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This category includes sensitive personal, financial, medical, and proprietary information.
Examples of Confidential/Protected Information:
Credit Card Information: Financial data that requires compliance with PCI-DSS standards for secure handling and processing.
Medical Data: Protected under regulations such as HIPAA in the U.S., ensuring privacy and security of patient health information.
Government Records: Often classified or protected under laws and regulations to maintain national security and ensure the privacy of sensitive governmental operations.
Key References:
The EC-Council Certified CISO (CCISO) framework specifically identifies the handling and protection of such data as a core responsibility under the domain of Information Security Management.
Per EC-Council CCISO material, such data forms the backbone of risk assessment and compliance mandates in most regulatory frameworks.
Connection to Cybersecurity Best Practices: As per the CCISO guidelines, proper classification and protection of this type of information are paramount. This involves:
Establishing security policies.
Implementing technical controls such as encryption and access control.
Training employees to recognize and handle sensitive data appropriately.
