Glossary · IT & systems
Data breach
The unintended release of sensitive data.
A data breach is the unintended release of sensitive data. It can involve customer data, staff data or company information that falls into the wrong hands, through an attack, a mistake or a lost device.
The damage goes beyond the technical. Customers lose trust, your reputation takes a hit, and where personal data is involved, legal obligations apply. Under privacy rules you must report a serious breach, and sometimes also warn the people affected, within a strict deadline.
Prevention starts with knowing where your sensitive data is and who can access it. A plan for when things do go wrong also helps: who does what, who you warn and how you limit the damage. Responding quickly and correctly makes a big difference.
