Companies and organizations are at great risk when data breaches occur. Sensitive information can fall into the wrong hands, with unpleasant consequences. Besides reputational damage, there can also be legal consequences. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) imposes strict rules for handling personal data. Companies and organizations can do a lot to prevent data breaches or reduce their consequences. Knowledge about data breaches contributes to an overall higher awareness of information security.
What is a data breach?
A data breach is defined by the Personal Data Authority (AP) as access to or destruction, alteration or release of personal data at an organization without intent. It is thus not limited to information coming out, a concrete leak, but also subsumes the unlawful processing of data, where protection of this data is not in accordance with legislation. Data breaches can happen due to human error, hacking, malware or physical theft.
Types of data breaches
By being aware of data breaches and taking appropriate steps, organizations and individuals can better guard against the increasing cyber threats in the digital world. The Personal Data Authority (AP) defines three types of data breaches, and depending on the circumstances, a data breach may fall into more than one of these categories:
- Breach of confidentiality: Personal data is disclosed or there is unauthorized access to it.
- Breach of integrity: Personal data is altered without consent.
- Breach of availability: Personal data is no longer available to legitimate users.
What are the consequences of a data breach?
A data breach can have serious consequences for both the victim and the organization where the leak occurs. For example, victims may face identity fraud, financial damage or emotional damage. The company or organization responsible for the data breach may be fined by the Personal Data Authority (AP). They also incur reputational damage, customer confidence is dented, business operations are disrupted at the time, and the cost of restoring IT infrastructure can mount. In many cases, a data breach must be reported to both the regulator and those affected. Depending on the severity of the leak, the organization may even be held liable for damages suffered. So it is very important to prevent data breaches.
How to prevent data breaches
Many organizations experience a data breach at some point. It is important that organizations then take immediate action, so that the damage to the victims is as small as possible. In order to act quickly in the event of a data breach, it helps if a work process is in place and by taking good security measures, such as:
- Make your employees aware of the risks of data breaches. Train them on how to handle sensitive information and teach them how to recognize phishing attacks and malware.
- Make sure your employees can only access personal data they really need for their jobs.
- Conduct regular risk assessments to identify and assess which data breaches are most likely and what the impact would be.
- Develop an incident response plan in case a data breach occurs.
- Back up your data regularly so that it can be restored in the event of a data breach.
- Implement strong security measures such as an email security solution. Encrypt sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access to your data.
The Authority for Personal Data (AP) website clearly outlines what companies and organizations should do when suspecting if there is a data breach.
Email security: protect your privacy
An email security solution helps businesses and organizations reduce human error. By deploying FileCap in business processes and daily operations, businesses and organizations can send emails and files from one environment carefree and secure. Switching between a secure mail solution and a file-transfer platform is unnecessary with FileCap. Emails and files sent with FileCap are optimally secured, when stored on the FileCap environment and during transmission.
The "invite function" allows customers, applicants and suppliers to securely send encrypted files and messages to your company. Integrating with Outlook via an add-in, FileCap allows users to send large attachments effortlessly. No more worries about oversized files via email, document security or slow uploads. Revocation of sent emails and files is also possible.
With FileCap, users add an extra layer of protection to their emails and prevent unauthorized access to their data. FileCap is ISO 27001 certified and GDPR compliant.
FileCap: more than software
With FileCap, businesses and organizations have a reliable tool that protects their data and helps them meet legal requirements and stay compliant. We are happy to help you make the right choice when it comes to secure communications. Request a no-obligation demo or trial version of FileCap now.
