How can PHP developers ensure that their code complies with legal regulations and standards when handling sensitive information?

To ensure that PHP code complies with legal regulations and standards when handling sensitive information, developers should implement proper data encryption, secure communication protocols, and access controls. They should also regularly update their code to address any security vulnerabilities and follow best practices for handling sensitive data.

// Example of encrypting sensitive information before storing it in a database
$sensitiveData = "mySecretPassword123";
$encryptedData = openssl_encrypt($sensitiveData, 'AES-256-CBC', 'myEncryptionKey', 0, 'myInitializationVector');
// Store $encryptedData in the database