Handling Data Breaches: 5 Guidelines For A Successful Reaction

Regardless of the circumstances, data breaches can have a disastrous effect on organizations and data subjects. Organizations may have a wide range of problems following a breach, such as lost consumer trust, reputational harm, operational disruption, and regulatory repercussions. Even if there are companies that provide data protection as a service, all businesses still need to be aware of the fundamental ideas behind data breach management best practices. Any organization that wants to be proactive and lessen the effects of a data breach must develop a long-term structure and security plan. Organizations should take a comprehensive strategy to managing data breaches, and the following list of five suggestions will help you ensure that your reaction to cyber and non-cyber incidents is strong.

What distinguishes non-cyber breaches from cyber breaches?

A few of the most significant breaches of personal data in recent memory have involved malevolent third parties hacking into organizations. The 2013 Yahoo breach, which compromised 3 billion user accounts and was purportedly started by a spear-phishing email, is a prominent example. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) asserts that non-cyber incidents still account for the majority of reported breaches overall, despite the increased concern about cyber-assisted intrusions. An offline or physical breach is another term for a non-cyber breach. As their names imply, these occur physically and are typically the result of human error. 75% of UK personal data breaches reported between October and December 2022 were categorized as non-cyber. The most common cause of these incidents, accounting for nearly one in five cases, was “data emailed to the wrong recipient.”

Best Strategies For Managing Data Breaches

It is imperative to take proactive measures to prevent data breaches, regardless of the size or industrial sector of the organization. A strong plan should aim to provide more than just defense against data breach fines; it should enable organizations to act quickly and, ideally, give the following benefits:

• Gain the trust of your customers
• Maintain the reputation of your brand
• Bolster collaborations
• Reduce the impact of business interruptions
• Provide comfort to stakeholders

Organizations may lessen the effect of potential attacks and show a strong commitment to protecting client information by having a solid plan and well-trained staff. Larger companies often have specialized teams and support for continuous data security training, but resource constraints might present significant difficulties for smaller companies, particularly independent contractors. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) small organization data privacy guidelines are available for assessment by businesses in the UK. The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) provides a comparable manual for companies operating in the EU.

Five Suggestions For Handling Data Breaches Well

Create A Team To Respond To Data Breaches

The individual or organization in charge of handling security incidents can be this person. Responding to a breach requires quick thinking, and a committed response team will be essential to minimizing damage and protecting private data. Along with any urgent technological mitigation, this person or team should ideally have a thorough awareness of data protection implications.

Examine Your Actions Related To Data Processing

Knowing the locations and methods by which your company handles personal data, along with the security measures in place, makes it easier to spot vulnerabilities and draw attention to dangers. Your overall strategy should include regular reviews, since these will help you decide how best to spend resources to support your data protection activities. Developing a Record of Processing Activities (RoPA), carrying out data mapping exercises, and creating an Information Asset Register can all assist with this process. Additionally, focusing on procedures where a data breach could have a greater impact is ensured by conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) on high risk processing activities.

Create an Action Strategy For Data Breaches

A thorough data breach response plan guarantees that employees are ready in the event of a breach, even though a risk assessment will pinpoint any weak points. The details of a strategy will differ depending on the size of the organization, the industry, and the particular data handling procedures. However, as a general guideline, response strategies for data breaches should comprise:

• Information about the data breach response group
• Procedures for internal reporting, tracking, and breach identification
• Procedures related to law and regulation
• Mitigation and control of breaches
• Resources for external support
• Framework for assessing breaches in risk
• processes for post-breach reviews
• Requirements for awareness and training

Keep An Eye Out For Unusual or Suspicious Conduct

This ought to be a continuous, non-exhaustive approach to finding possible breaches. Cyberattacks and incidents involving the protection of personal data might be lessened with early response. It is desirable to update and monitor internal procedures on a regular basis in accordance with evolving threats and best practices. Here are some actions to think about:

• Systems for detecting intrusions (IDS) and preventing them (IPS)
• Examine online application logs for any unusual activity, such as repeated unsuccessful login attempts.
• Perform routine audits of data security and protection.
• Provide frequent training sessions on data protection to all employees.

Establish A Culture Of Data Protection

One of the most important elements in preventing data breaches is probably an organizational culture that values data protection and has a strong understanding of it. According to ICO data, non-cyber breaches account for the majority of breaches; among these, sending an email to the incorrect person is most likely to result in a data breach. An essential component of a robust corporate culture around data protection is ongoing employee awareness and training.

In Brief

Although data breaches are an awful fact that we must acknowledge, organizations of all sizes may lessen the effect of prospective assaults and show that they are committed to information security by implementing a strong data breach management plan. Data security may be strengthened, personal information can be safeguarded, and stakeholder and customer confidence can be guaranteed by adhering to these five recommendations and putting a methodical plan into action. Don’t ignore this; prompt answers and proactive steps are essential for successful data breach management.