What is Data breach?
A data breach occurs when important information or data is accessed or stolen without the knowledge of the relevant authorities or the data owner. It represents a security violation where an organization’s confidential data is compromised. This issue has become increasingly common in many companies, especially when data is not adequately protected. The lost data can include sensitive information such as customer databases, credit card details, security documents, employee information, and more.
A data breach can happen for several reasons, with the most frequent being:
- Hacking or malware
- Loss of portable devices
- Unintended disclosure
- Insider leaks
- Loss of stationary data
- Payment card fraud
- Physical loss
- Other causes.
How HR teams use this term
HR teams usually use Data Breach when they write policies, explain employee communication, review payroll or leave records, or keep employee data clean in an HRMS.