ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
Which of the following are examples of sensitive PII? (Select all that apply.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Medical records
Sensitive PII includes information that, if disclosed, could cause significant harm. Medical records and Social Security numbers are both considered sensitive PII because their exposure can lead to identity theft, discrimination, or other serious consequences. Phone numbers and name/email combinations are typically not classified as sensitive PII on their own.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Phone number
Why it's wrong here
Phone numbers are generally not considered sensitive PII because they are often shared publicly and less likely to cause significant harm if disclosed.
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Medical records
Why this is correct
Medical records are sensitive PII as they contain private health information protected under regulations like HIPAA.
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Social Security number
Why this is correct
Social Security numbers are sensitive PII because they can be used for identity theft and financial fraud.
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Name and email address
Why it's wrong here
Name and email address are typically not classified as sensitive PII alone, though they may be combined with other data.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
Exposure
Exposure is the measure of potential loss or harm to an organization's assets when a vulnerability is exploited by a threat, often expressed as the window of time or degree of access an attacker has.
Key term
PII
PII stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which is any data that can be used to identify a specific individual.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.