Taking Action in the Event of a Big Data Breach

Corporations have always suffered significant financial losses as a result of data breaches. On the other hand, data breach incidents are becoming more common by the day. Indeed, the total number of data breaches through September 30, 2021, has surpassed the total number of events in 2020 by 17 percent, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center [1].

Although most large corporations are well aware of the risks, the frequency of breaches serves as a painful reminder that more needs to be done on both a technological and organizational level to avoid potential data breaches. Let's look at some of the most common reasons for data breaches and the most critical data security practices that can help reduce the risk:

Common Data Breach Reasons

Most Data Breaches occur majorly due to the following reasons: -

• Vulnerability- A network with a vulnerability in the security system often serves as a loose end that gives easy access to hackers. There are various ways to use the vulnerabilities, including via systems, networks, or even humans.
• Weak Infrastructure- After detecting vulnerabilities, hackers often take advantage of the weaknesses in legacy infrastructure and gain unauthorized access to the organization's network.
• Human Error- Using a weak password, sending sensitive information to the wrong recipients, or falling into a phishing trap remains one of the significant causes of data breaches.?

Above all, cognizance and vigilance have a big role in safeguarding data.??

Data Certainty Practices To Diminish Data Breaches

1. Execute Regular Backups - At present, data loss is relatively frequent, and it can be cramped for an operation or individual. You demonstrate that an appropriate backup strategy reduces the redress from a data breach. Although you have backups, it becomes easy to restore processes and saves your piggy bank, i.e., a ransomware attack. A systematic approach is required. The more delicate the data, the more often it needs to be backed up. Assure that you apply updated software and that the recuperation process is brisk and fluent in reclaiming the regular operations as promptly as possible.
2. Vulnerability and Compliance Supervision - Vulnerability and Compliance management (VCM) continually supervise your framework plus IT holdings for vulnerabilities and compliance feebleness and configures best practices.VCM tool supports the gaps, frailties, and security errors in your physical and virtual environments. Additionally, VCM supervises your infrastructure continually.?An agreeable VCM will permit you to form an action plan to rectify these vulnerabilities and delegate them to suitable staff members. However, some merits will help you in preventing a data breach. It enables your security squad to improve the security vulnerability prospects of the environment.
3. Employee Cognizance - According to statistics, 72% of data breaches are caused by employees receiving false messages. To adequately respond to cyber security threats, staff must be trained. That being the case, employees play a crucial role in preventing data breaches. Also, employee awareness confirms that they understand network security and know-how to discover any warnings to the tract security and the actions to be taken in case of an attempted attack.?Assembling an incident response team and communicating all relevant breaches with your parties would also be beneficial. When employees are not informed of the best practices to prevent data breaches, they tend to be considered the most vulnerable element in data security.
4. Perform Regular Risk Assessments - Conducting regular risk assessments is vital to protect and prevent significant data breaches. To conduct a thorough risk assessment, it becomes essential to identify the potential risks in terms of confidential and critical data. There exist multiple threats, with new ones emerging. Thus, identifying the potential hazards and safeguarding against them becomes crucial. Assessing vulnerabilities, such as auditing and testing, becomes crucial after placing a threat. Using solutions to classify and encrypt data helps prevent data breaches. A mere file name without any attaching details wouldn't allow the hacker unless they're interlinked. Thus, classifying files and cataloging to segregate data according to patterns and encryptions, which hackers can't decode, helps prevent data breaches.
5. Evaluate All Permissions - Human error is the most common cause of data breaches. It may result from malice or irresponsibility. Proper precautions must accompany the training. Limiting employee data access and establishing a data chain in which no single person has access to all data reduces the risk of a massive data breach. It is best to back this up with secure access to confidential data, which eliminates the possibility of a leak. It is also advantageous to have flexible information sharing between departments. The source of data is misplaced between departments, resulting in redundancy. Involving top-level management ensures that data quality is maintained.
6. Acquire SSL Certification - A SSL certificate encrypts the data that you can send across a web, making it incomprehensible to anyone but the legitimate recipients - considering that most hackers conduct their attacks by modifying the client-server connection. On the other hand, SSL certificates impart data encoding and integrity by assuring that the data is not deceitful. Also, SSL certificates are accessible in various validation levels and kinds.

Conclusion

Considering that the data breach connotes treacherous to those affected, as a corporation, it is imperative to integrate robust practices in securing data and inculcating an in-house system of valuing and protecting confidential data.?

Being vigilant and aware and having common knowledge of new kinds of hacker attacks can help prevent any data breaches, which can help your organization save millions and build a reputation as a trustworthy and secure information storehouse.