The linchpin for a viable and comprehensive National Mortgage Database is to ensure that the identities of both mortgage borrowers and mortgage servicers from whom the statistical information is collected for analysis are protected behind a firm wall of security countermeasures, according to project architects. During a recent webinar sponsored by the Urban Institute, Federal Housing Finance Agency National Mortgage Database Project Director Robert Avery told attendees that privacy is a paramount concern in order to make the project work. “The challenge is to protect borrower/lender personally identifiable information and provide useful data,” said Avery.