Which type of information is categorized under Personally Identifiable Information (PII)?

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual. This includes a variety of data points that can be linked back to a specific person. In this context, the name and address of an individual fall squarely under the definition of PII because they directly connect to a specific person and can be used to identify them.

The significance of PII lies in the privacy implications associated with it. Organizations that handle this type of information must ensure that it is protected to prevent identity theft or unauthorized access. In this case, since a name and address are explicit identifiers, they are quintessential examples of PII, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding such information in both personal and organizational contexts.

The other options, while they may contain sensitive information, do not strictly fit the criteria of PII as defined for personal identification. Financial statements might pertain to financial health or status, health records relate to medical information often protected under different regulations, and company documents refer to organizational information which does not specifically identify an individual.