The 3 Most Common Causes for Security Breaches and Data Loss

With the high cost associated with data loss, companies need to educate employees and have a backup plan. What causes companies to be hit hard with security breaches and data loss? According to Risk Based Security (RBS), there was a 29% increase in reported/disclosed incidents in 2015. 91% of those incidents could have been prevented and 30% of the incidents were due to operator error or lack of controls according to the Online Trust Alliance (OTA). The average cost per breach was $3.3 million dollars according to the Ponemon Institute. Part of that backup plan is understanding the common causes of data loss:  technical failure, human failure, and operational failure.

1.    Technical Failure

Technical failure is the most common cause of data loss; technology will fail, it’s inevitable. We have become so reliant on technology we often forget how to operate without it. These are important details you need to follow. All critical hardware must be built with physical redundancy, have access to sparesof critical hardware, know where your software is, keep your servers and software up to date, apply tested patches and security releases, and have licenses and media organized for quick access.

2.     Human Failure

Human failure is the second cause and it’s the most frustrating because it’s preventable. Examples of human failure range from getting hacked (inside job or an outside job), not backing up your data, opening a ransomware email and/or phishing email, spilling coffee on your computer, accidently unplugging your server, or downloading a virus. These are all frustrating reasons for data loss. It’s important to have security in place, firewalls, virus protection, spam filtering, and internet content filtering. Make sure your company has a clear policy for your employees to follow.

3.     Operational Failure

Operational failure is the third most common cause and it is the most expensive. Examples of operational failure are not having information organized for speedy recovery, power failure, not having servers to restore data, and not having a manual business process to replace automated ones. The cost of lost sales and productivity outweighs the cost of secure data. 

Make sure your data is protected and you know what to do in the event of technical, human, or operational failure that will lead to loss of data. Click here to learn more about ScaleAssure Cloud Archival, Backup, and Managed Cloud Disaster Recovery from ScaleMatrix.