Personally identifiable information (PII) is any data that can be used to identify, contact, or locate a specific individual, either alone or combined with other sources. PII includes information such as name, address, phone number, email address, social security number, etc. Patient names are examples of PII, and therefore the data that contains them should be masked or anonymized to protect the privacy and security of the patients.
Confidential information, protected health information, and security clearance are not types of data, but rather categories or levels of data sensitivity that may require different degrees of protection or access control.
References = CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, Chapter 3: Project Planning, Section 3.4: Data Privacy and Security, p. 121; Patient Data: Types, Uses & Hospital Patient Databases; What is Patient Data and Why Is It Important?; Chapter 1 - Registrar Playbook