What is a Data Breach?
Data Breach is a cyberattack that exposes sensitive information. Attacks can range from data breaches that expose the personal details of customers to attacks on government agencies that threaten national security. Attacks can impact companies of all sizes, and the costs associated with a breach are rising. In 2020, the average cost per data breach was $4 million, with the most costly incidents affecting financial institutions and retailers.
The attackers in a breach may be lone hackers or members of a criminal organization. Motives for the attack can vary, with financial gain being the most common. Criminals can use stolen credit card numbers or bank accounts to drain funds from individuals and businesses. Attackers can also sell the data they obtain in a breach to other criminal organizations or use it for their own malicious purposes.
An attack can occur inside or outside the network, and it can affect multiple sites or servers. A ransomware attack that locks up a company’s data and demands a payment is a data breach, as is the physical theft of hard drives or USB flash drives containing sensitive information.
Once a breach has occurred, it’s important to act quickly to mitigate damage. Work with your forensics team to identify the affected data and determine the source of the attack. Ensure that the appropriate cybersecurity tools are in place and properly configured. Analyze backup or preserved data and assess who had access to the data, if needed. Restrict access immediately, and examine the data movements in your apps, services and servers to prevent future breaches.