When sensitive information like customer lists, financial data or future business plans is inadvertently or purposefully leaked to unauthorized parties, companies can experience serious repercussions. Customers lose trust, contracts go sour and the company’s reputation suffers. In the age of digitalization, it’s more important than ever for organizations to protect critical information and ensure they have robust leak prevention systems in place.
The difference between a data loss and a data leak is that a data loss occurs when information is irrevocably deleted or destroyed, while a data leak is the unintentional release of sensitive information outside its intended environment. This can be the result of hardware failures, software bugs or cyberattacks.
A data leak can lead to a variety of issues, including identity theft, financial fraud and business espionage. Cybercriminals often leverage stolen personal identifiable information (PII) from a data leak to gain access to a company’s systems. PII can include names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, social security numbers, passwords, and financial account details.
Many data leaks stem from human error, and the best way to avoid them is to implement clear policies, regular vulnerability assessments and secure endpoint devices like laptops, desktops, and mobile phones that are critical entry points into the system. Implementing a “trust” list of devices and enforcing user access control can help prevent employees from losing company data on their own or through accidental or malicious actions. Companies can also take advantage of advanced monitoring tools that can detect and identify anomalous patterns in network traffic to stop data leaks as they are happening.