A data leak happens when sensitive information is unintentionally exposed to unauthorized environments—like when employees misplace their laptops, accidentally share confidential files over email and messaging platforms or fail to use encryption. It’s not as invasive or damaging as hacking, but still has the potential to result in regulatory fines and lost customer trust.
The most common types of information found in a data leak include personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property (IP). PII includes names, physical addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, email addresses, and financial details like credit card and bank account information. Cybercriminals exploit PII to commit identity theft, scams and fraud.
IP is the foundation of any business and represents a large portion of its value. If it falls into the hands of criminals, companies can experience significant damage to their competitive advantage and revenue growth. IP can include prototypes, test material, documentation for scrapped or unfinished products, designs, the source code for proprietary software and technology, and strategic company information.
A data leak can occur through many channels, including email, external storage devices and even in-house printing centers. It’s important to have a strong prevention strategy through encryption, access control, and employee training to avoid data loss or breaches.