How to Install an Open-source PII Scanner

It’s no news that hackers are trying to infiltrate your systems to access your data and customers’ personal information. Whatever their motivation is, you never want hackers to mess with your network. You desire to protect your systems to avoid mitigating the aftermath of cyber-attacks. 

Securing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) like Social Security Numbers, credit card numbers, and bank account numbers deter hackers and ensure you comply with standard cybersecurity regulations. This is why you need an open-source PII Scanner.

An open-source PII Scanner scans your network periodically to detect unprotected confidential client information you (or your employees) may have mistakenly stored on your system. This client information stored without proper data encryption makes your systems prone to hacking, data breach, and other devastating cybercrimes. An open-source PII Scanner prevents this from happening. It helps you identify any PII vulnerabilities in your network so that you can mitigate these security threats before hackers and cybercriminals exploit them.

Learn how to install a PII scanner here.

 

Why You Need An Open-Source PII Scanner

As the internet gets more sophisticated and becomes increasingly important to our everyday lives, cybercriminals also increase their sophistication. Every day, we hear news about data breaches, yet companies are not protecting their information enough.

With cybercriminals targeting personally identifiable information, you need to scan your systems regularly and protect customer data from these cyber-attacks.

Here are some reasons why you need an open-source PII Scanner:

1. To save cost
   Using an open-source PII scanner, you can identify and encrypt all personally identifiable information before hackers get to them, saving you the costs and other consequences of a data breach.

2. To retain customers’ trust.
   With data breaches occurring more frequently than ever, customers are worried about safeguarding their data. In recent times, credit card frauds have increased because some companies don’t encrypt customers’ credit card information. Using an open-source PII scanner helps you pinpoint and encrypt customers’ sensitive data and keep them beyond the reach of cybercriminals. This assures your customers they have nothing to worry about.
3. To be CCPA, GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and FINRA compliant
   Regulations like CCPA, GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and FINRA require you to protect personally identifiable information. An open-source PII scanner helps you comply with these requirements by showing you the unencrypted PII you need to protect. It improves your data security and increases your organization’s reputation. You’ll also avoid noncompliance penalties.

4. To preserve your reputation
   Nothing ruins your organization’s reputation like a data breach. When hackers access personally identifiable information from your network, it affects how people perceive your organization. An open-source PII scanner regularly scans your files for any exposed PII, allowing you to fix such a loophole before hackers access it.

Why PII Vulnerabilities Exist

You’ve never experienced a data breach. Your organization is CCPA, GDPR, HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI DSS compliant. You also have a clear and concise cybersecurity policy and a personally identifiable information policy that your employees adhere strictly to. So, you may be wondering if you need an open-source PII scanner.

Read on to see why PII vulnerabilities could exist in organizations no matter how strict cybersecurity best practices are.

 

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1. Human error 

Human error accounts for most of the vulnerabilities companies face. No matter how strict your cybersecurity policy is, you can’t rule out human error completely. An open-source PII scanner identifies vulnerabilities and mitigates them before they’re exploited.

2. Network structure 

Your company’s network structure can make you prone to cyber-attacks. Because of this, unauthorized users can infiltrate your network and access PII. You can prevent this by conducting network vulnerability assessments. You should also scan your network with an open-source PII scanner to spot unprotected data and encrypt them before they’re leaked.

3. Employee indiscretion

Some employees abuse their privileges and disclose sensitive data. Some do it spitefully, motivated by revenge. Some others are motivated by financial gain. Periodically scanning your network with an open-source PII scanner helps you monitor your PII. It also keeps you many steps ahead of employee indiscretion by ensuring that PII is always protected regardless of what they do. You should also restrict employees’ access to sensitive information.

 

How to Choose the Right Open-Source PII Scanner

Choosing the suitable open-source PII scanner for your network can be challenging because there are many great options available. You need to think about your cybersecurity and technical expertise. You also need to consider your business needs.  In this section, learn how to identify the right open-source PII scanner for your network.

Here are the qualities of an excellent open-source PII scanner:

1. It runs on Mac, Linux, OS X, and Windows.
2. It’s easy to install, activate, and manage.
3. It can be automated to schedule scans.
4. It can encrypt and delete sensitive information.
5. It can check web applications for security vulnerabilities.
6. It can detect vulnerabilities like file disclosure and file inclusion.
7. It has a graphical user interface which makes it easy to use.
8. It supports different database servers, including Oracle, Firebird, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, SQLite, etc.
9. It keeps sensitive data encrypted while on the move.
10. It can generate timely reports as often as needed.
11. It prevents unauthorized access to data containing PII.
12. It ensures that sensitive data doesn’t leave your network.
13. It doesn’t allow PII to be copied to devices, applications, or through screen captures.

 

How to Install an Open-Source PII Scanner

Installing an open-source PII scanner is as simple as downloading an app from the Apple Store or Google Play. It doesn’t require technical expertise. It’s also easy to activate and manage.

Here’s how you can install and use an Open source PII scanner:

1. Download the PII scanner.
2. Install the PII scanner.
3. Activate the PII scanner.
4. Customize your preferences.
5. Run a PII vulnerability scan.
6. Decide whether to encrypt or delete non-compliant PII.
7. Schedule future PII scans.

 

Closing Thoughts

Using a suitable open-source PII scanner to detect PII will reduce liability and ensure compliance with CCPA, GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS regulations in the few steps listed above. You can also scan your system as often as needed to monitor any changes to your PII.

The PII scanner will detect names, Social Security numbers, credit cards, etc., and report how many are on your system. Then, it will identify unprotected data and encrypt or delete non-compliant PII.

RSI Security is America’s premier cybersecurity and compliance provider committed to helping companies achieve risk-management success. Our open source scanning (OSS) automation services will help you mitigate open source vulnerabilities and risks with OSS automation.

We can provide your business with some of the best web vulnerability scanner technologies to help you take a proactive stance against malicious actors. We’ll help you implement and manage an OSS scan tool designed to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks for any of your critical systems.

Get started today. Schedule a consultation with any of our experts now.