Recovering From a Data Breach
A data breach is a security violation in which sensitive, protected or confidential information is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, altered or used by someone who doesn’t have authorization. It is also known as unintentional information disclosure, data leak, or information spill.
Depending on the nature of the data, the consequences can range from a loss of revenue to the loss of customer trust and even brand image. It can lead to lawsuits, regulatory fines, and a general lack of confidence in the business.
It can be caused by insiders, attackers, or even just poor digital practices. Weak passwords, for example, are a common cause of data breaches as cyber criminals exploit the fact that many people use the same password for multiple online accounts and services. It can also be caused by a lack of security testing when developing new digital products, services and tools. Many smart home devices, for example, don’t have adequate security protections and can be susceptible to hackers.
The first step in recovering from a data breach is to identify it. This requires a formal risk assessment and a complete analysis of the affected systems. Once the source of the attack has been eliminated, it’s time to rebuild and restore all affected systems using clean backups. This step also includes implementing security fixes and workarounds where necessary. It is crucial to ensure that the attack vectors are blocked, and that any secondary risks for users or systems have been identified and eliminated.