What type of information is considered Sensitive?

Sensitive information refers to data that requires protection due to the potential risks associated with its unauthorized disclosure. Social security numbers and credit card information fall into this category because they can be exploited for identity theft and financial fraud if they are compromised. This type of information is highly regulated and protected under various laws and regulations, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which outline strict guidelines for how this data must be handled and safeguarded.

In contrast, other options suggest types of information that either do not require the same level of protection or are not classified as sensitive. Names and public addresses, while they can be personally identifiable, do not inherently pose the same risks as social security numbers and credit card data. General business information may be important but is typically not considered sensitive unless it pertains to confidential operations or trade secrets. Lastly, classifying information as not significant enough to warrant protection dismisses the potential impact of unauthorized access or breaches and does not align with best practices in data security.