An Organization Will Be Testing A Beta Upgrade Version Of It ✓ Solved

An Organization Will Be Testing A Beta Upgrade Version Of Its

An organization will be testing a beta upgrade version of its employee's fingerprint matching system. Because it's difficult to mimic human fingerprints the company used real biometric images, data, and templates to test the beta upgrade. The previous and current versions both contain meta data, and demographic data with each fingerprint that includes the owner's name, age, sex, race, and date of birth. After a successful upgrade consider the following: What data types stored by the system should be considered as PII Review the NIST Special Publication to determine the impact level. What factors did you include to determine the impact level?

What privacy safeguards should be considered to protect the PII in the upgrade test. Is a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) required to complete the upgrade? What should be done with the test data after the upgrade?

Paper For Above Instructions

In today's digital age, the handling of personal information, especially biometric data, requires strict attention to privacy and security considerations. As organizations increasingly rely on biometric matching systems, such as fingerprint identification, it is essential to assess the types of data stored, the implications of the data types in relation to Personally Identifiable Information (PII), the impact level according to guidelines such as those established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the safeguards needed to protect this sensitive information during beta testing and beyond.

1. Identification of PII

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) includes any data that could potentially be used to identify a particular individual. In the context of the fingerprint matching system being upgraded, several data types qualify as PII:

  • Biometric Data: The actual fingerprint images and templates are considered highly sensitive PII due to their uniqueness and ability to link to an individual.
  • Demographic Data: Associated information such as the owner’s name, age, sex, race, and date of birth are also classified as PII. This data can distinctly identify an individual when combined with biometric information.

2. Impact Level Determination

To determine the impact level of the data stored within the system, we refer to the NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53, which outlines security and privacy controls for federal information systems. The impact level (low, moderate, or high) is typically assessed based on the potential consequences of a data breach. Factors included in this assessment are:

  • Type of Data: The biometric and demographic data described above hold a significant risk if compromised.
  • Number of Individuals Affected: The scope of data—how many employees’ information is included in the system—further increases risk.
  • Potential Impact of a Breach: A breach of this data could lead to identity theft or unauthorized access to other sensitive information.

Given these factors, the data is likely categorized as high impact due to the sensitivity of the biometric information and the potential repercussions on individuals if it were to fall into the wrong hands.

3. Privacy Safeguards

To protect PII during the beta testing of the fingerprint matching system, several privacy safeguards should be implemented:

  • Data Encryption: Encrypting biometric and demographic data both at rest and in transit can significantly mitigate the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Access Controls: Implement strict access controls that limit who can view or use the biometric data to essential personnel only.
  • Data Minimization: Limit the collection of PII to only what is necessary for testing purposes, thus reducing exposure.
  • Regular Audits: Conduct regular audits and monitoring of the system to detect any unauthorized access attempts or data breaches.

4. Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a tool used to identify and minimize privacy risks associated with projects that affect individuals' personal data. Considering the nature of the data being processed and the potential impact of its mishandling, conducting a PIA is strongly recommended prior to completing the upgrade. A PIA would help to:

  • Assess compliance with applicable privacy laws and regulations.
  • Identify potential risks and their implications for affected individuals.
  • Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks.

Completing a PIA not only ensures regulatory compliance but also builds trust with employees regarding how their personal information is handled.

5. Handling Test Data Post-Upgrade

Once the beta testing of the upgraded fingerprint matching system is concluded, it is crucial to handle the test data appropriately. This involves:

  • Data Deletion: Securely deleting any test data that contains PII should be a priority to eliminate the risk of future breaches.
  • Data Anonymization: If data retention is necessary for further testing or development, ensure that it is anonymized to the extent that individuals cannot be identified through the retained data.
  • Establishing a Retention Policy: A clear policy regarding data retention timelines and destruction methods should be developed to guide future data handling practices.

Conclusion

As the organization undertakes the beta test of its upgraded fingerprint matching system, it faces significant responsibilities concerning PII. By identifying PII types, determining impact levels, establishing privacy safeguards, conducting a Privacy Impact Assessment, and appropriately managing test data, the organization can effectively mitigate risks and protect employees' sensitive data. Such actions not only help safeguard individual privacy but also promote a culture of data security within the organization.

References

  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2017). NIST Special Publication 800-53: Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations.
  • U.S. Department of Commerce. (2020). Privacy Framework: A Path to Enhanced Privacy Protection.
  • European Union. (2016). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
  • Office for Civil Rights. (n.d.). Guidance on HIPAA Privacy in a Digital World.
  • International Organization for Standardization. (2013). ISO/IEC 27001: Information Security Management.
  • Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. (2021). Facts about Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs).
  • U.S. Federal Trade Commission. (2020). Protecting Personal Information: A Guide for Business.
  • National Cyber Security Centre. (2021). Data Protection and Privacy Impact Assessments.
  • Information Commissioner's Office. (2019). Data Protection Impact Assessments.

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