Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) Practice Exam

What is defined as any information that directly or indirectly allows the identification of a natural person?

1. Authentication

2. Personal Data

3. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

4. Service Level Agreement (SLA)

The correct answer is: Personal Data

The correct response is the definition of "Personally Identifiable Information (PII)," which encompasses any information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual. This definition aligns closely with the concept of personal data, particularly within various data protection regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While both personal data and PII refer to identifying information, PII specifically emphasizes its capacity to pinpoint or associate information with an individual. The term "authentication" refers to the process of verifying the identity of a user or system, and "Service Level Agreement (SLA)" pertains to the agreements made between service providers and customers, specifying the expected level of service. Both of these concepts do not relate to the identification of individuals based on data. By recognizing the nuances of terms like personal data and PII, one can understand why PII is the precise answer to the question regarding identifying information.