Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Practice Exam

Data minimization is the principle that seeks to protect personal data by ensuring that only the necessary information is collected, processed, and stored. This principle is critical in privacy regulation frameworks because it limits the amount of personal data exposed to risks, thereby enhancing individual privacy. By focusing on collecting only what is essential for a particular purpose, organizations reduce the potential impact in the event of data breaches or unauthorized access.

This principle aligns with the overall goals of data protection laws that emphasize the responsible handling of personal information, encouraging organizations to rethink their data collection practices. Rather than gathering excessive data, which may not be needed for their operations, organizations are urged to focus on maintaining only the data that is relevant to their stated purposes. This approach not only minimizes the risk of misuse but also builds trust with stakeholders who are increasingly concerned about privacy and data security.

In contrast, privacy by design emphasizes integrating privacy considerations into the development of systems and processes from the outset. Access control refers to the measures put in place to restrict access to information, while incident response involves how an organization reacts to data breaches or security incidents. While these principles are important, they do not directly address the concept of limiting data collection to what is necessary for a defined purpose like data minimization does.