According to the standards for Trusted Agents, what must they maintain concerning PII?

Trusted Agents are required to maintain strict confidentiality concerning Personal Identifiable Information (PII). This is crucial because PII is sensitive data that, if compromised, can lead to serious privacy violations and identity theft. Upholding confidentiality means that Trusted Agents must implement robust security practices to ensure that any personal data they handle is protected from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.

This involves not only secure storage and transmission of PII but also ensuring that only authorized individuals have access to this information. By adhering to strict confidentiality standards, Trusted Agents help build trust with individuals whose data they manage and comply with legal and regulatory requirements surrounding data protection.

In this context, while open access and public transparency might promote accountability, they conflict with the necessity of keeping PII confidential. Additionally, minimal protection measures would not suffice to safeguard sensitive information, which could lead to data breaches and undermine the integrity of the Trusted Agent's role. Therefore, maintaining strict confidentiality is the most essential obligation in handling PII.