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which of the following is an example of a physical safeguard that individuals can use to protect pii

The clearest example of a physical safeguard that an individual can use to protect PII is keeping documents or devices that contain PII locked away when not in use , such as in a locked desk drawer, file cabinet, safe, or locked office.

What “physical safeguard” means

Physical safeguards are tangible, real‑world measures that control who can physically get to information or the devices that store it.

They are different from technical safeguards (like passwords or encryption) because they involve the physical environment and objects, not software.

Common physical safeguard examples

Here are straightforward physical safeguards individuals can use to protect PII:

  • Lock paper files with PII (e.g., forms with SSNs, addresses) in a desk, file cabinet, safe, or locked room when stepping away.
  • Use privacy cover sheets on documents with PII so casual passersby cannot read them.
  • Pick up and secure any printed PII left on printers, copiers, or shared work areas instead of leaving it unattended.
  • Do not leave laptops, phones, or USB drives containing PII in cars, public places, or unlocked areas.
  • Position workstations so screens are not easily visible to unauthorized people (e.g., away from public walkways).

Not physical safeguards

To help with multiple‑choice style questions, these are not physical safeguards:

  • Using strong passwords or multi‑factor authentication (technical, not physical).
  • Encrypting data or using secure VPNs (technical safeguards).
  • Training and policies (administrative safeguards).

How to spot the correct answer in a quiz

When you see a question like “Which of the following is an example of a physical safeguard that individuals can use to protect PII?” , the correct option will usually:

  • Involve locking, securing, or physically controlling access to documents or devices.
  • Mention things like locked drawers, cabinets, offices, ID‑badge controlled doors, or physically shielding documents or screens.

If you are given options, the best answer is typically something like:

“Store documents containing PII in a locked drawer or cabinet when not in use.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.