50 Examples of Confidential Information

John Spacey, updated on October 14, 2023

Confidential information is sensitive data or knowledge that is not to be disclosed to unauthorized persons or entities. Employees are typically required to protect confidential information and refrain from leaking it. Confidential information is also a focus of cybersecurity that seeks to prevent unauthorized access, use or disruption of this data. The following are illustrative examples of confidential information.

Trade Secrets	Financial records
Financial results	Bank account information
Financial statements	Asset & real estate appraisals
Transaction records	Proprietary processes
Proprietary methods	Proprietary formulas
Proprietary metrics & calculations	Software source
Algorithms	Personal health information
Employee records	Contracts
Performance reviews	Strategies
Goals & targets	Expansion plans
Procurement plans	Unreleased product details & specifications
Intellectual property	Research & development information
Client lists	Sales opportunities
Sales prospects	Government & military secrets
Information about pending negotiations	Mergers & acquisitions information
Information about restructuring plans	Confidential agreements
Security information	Internal messages
Internal documents	Client communications
Customer related documents	Student records
Passwords & access codes	Research data
Product designs	Product plans & roadmaps
Information about third parties such as credit report databases	Tax filings and records
Disciplinary actions	Employee compensation details
Biometric data	Security information
Insider information about stocks	Compliance reports

Confidential information applies to the data and knowledge of an organization such as a company and should not be confused with private information that concerns a person. In practice, there is much overlap between the two. For example, employee data is both confidential and private.

Next: Personally Identifiable Information

More about information security:

Audit Trail

Canary Trap

Confidential Information

Critical Infrastructure