Data breach prevention definition
Data breach prevention is the employment of a range of strategies, policies, and tools to protect sensitive information from being accessed, disclosed, or misused without authorization. The goal is to secure digital data against cyberattacks, including hacking, malware infections, or insider threats, that might put personally identifiable information (PII), financial details, or trade secrets at risk.
See also: cyberattack, network encryption, network security protocols
Data breach prevention examples
- Encryption: Encrypting data at rest and in transit ensures that only authorized users with the correct decryption keys can access sensitive information, making it unreadable to unauthorized parties.
- Access controls: Implementing strict access controls, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and role-based access, restricts access to sensitive data only to authorized users.
- Regular security audits: Conducting regular security audits and vulnerability assessments helps identify and remediate potential weaknesses in an organization's security posture.
Tips for data breach prevention
- Keep software and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches.
- Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices, such as recognizing phishing attempts and creating strong passwords.
- Implement network segmentation to isolate sensitive data and limit potential damage in case of a breach.
- Use a virtual private network (VPN), like NordVPN, to encrypt internet connections and protect data from eavesdropping.
