A data leak occurs when sensitive or confidential information is exposed outside its intended environment. It can affect an individual’s personal information, such as credit card numbers, or corporate data such as trade secrets or future business plans, resulting in financial losses and damage to trust.
A wide range of causes can contribute to data leaks. Many of them involve human error, such as sending emails with confidential information to the wrong people or leaving unsecured files open on servers or computers. Some are the result of misconfigured cloud services, such as the accidental exposure in 2021 of 38 terabytes of personal data from a Microsoft misconfigured Azure S3 bucket, including email addresses, phone numbers, locations, and public keys to accounts.
Another common cause of data leaks is malicious insider threats, either from disgruntled employees seeking retribution or those taking company credentials with them after they leave for a new job. Other factors include the use of unsecured endpoints and software applications, such as laptops and USB storage devices, or the failure to properly erase or dispose of hardware or printed documents.
Regardless of the source, it’s important to take steps to prevent data leakage. These measures include setting clear policies, monitoring network activity, and implementing intrusion detection and prevention systems. Also, ensuring that access to sensitive information is limited to those who need it for their work, and regularly reviewing and updating privileges can minimize risks. The latest privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA have significantly increased the penalties companies face for failing to protect their customers’ PII, making it even more essential to implement robust, proactive protections.
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