The FREE Cybersecurity Glossary by Thor Pedersen!

Principal Accrediting Authority (PAA): The organization responsible for evaluating and certifying the security controls of a system or network to ensure information system security during the accreditation process. Examples include the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

Privacy: The state of being free from public attention or observation. It is used in the context of personal information and data protection to ensure that individuals have control over their own personal information and how it is used. Examples include privacy policies, privacy settings on social media platforms, and privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Privacy by Design (PbD): A framework for designing and implementing systems, products, and services that prioritize and protect individuals' privacy rights. It is used in various industries, such as healthcare and technology, to ensure that personal data is collected, used, and disclosed in a transparent and secure manner. Examples of PbD principles include data minimization and user control.

Privacy Management Framework (PMF): A Privacy Management Framework (PMF) is an organizational blueprint that helps establish, implement, assess, and refine the processes and practices surrounding the handling of personal information. The PMF encompasses policies, procedures, and tools to manage risks to privacy and ensure compliance with applicable privacy norms and regulations.

Privacy policy: A document that outlines an organization's practices and procedures related to the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. It is used to inform and protect individuals' privacy rights and to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Examples of privacy policies can be found on websites, mobile apps, and physical stores.

Privacy Shield: The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield was a framework established to facilitate the lawful transfer of personal data from the European Union to the United States. It provided companies with a mechanism to comply with EU data protection requirements. However, the Privacy Shield was declared invalid by the European Court of Justice in 2020, and organizations must now use alternative legal mechanisms like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) for such data transfers.