Whenever you browse the web, use an application or swipe your debit card at your favourite supermarket, you leave a data trail. 

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While data fuels business innovation and personalised experiences, our increasing dependence creates vulnerability.

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Cybercriminals are exploiting these vulnerabilities, and the headlines prove that people and businesses are not as safe as they think they are. These incidents aren’t just technical failures; they’re serious intrusions that can disrupt lives, cripple businesses, and compromise national security. 

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According to research by IBM, the global average data breach cost reached $4.88 million in 2024. Cyberattacks targeting sensitive data have skyrocketed in recent years, and unauthorised access to data can lead to severe consequences.

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How do you prevent this in your business? We’ll show you in this blog post. 

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What is a data breach?

A data breach occurs when unauthorised individuals gain access to confidential, sensitive, or protected information. This is often due to security vulnerabilities, weak credentials, or social engineering tactics. These breaches can expose anything from personal details and financial records to trade secrets and classified documents.

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While sophisticated hacking techniques are sometimes involved, data breaches often rely on human error. 

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A misplaced laptop, a weak password, or clicking on a malicious link can be all it takes for sensitive data to fall into the wrong hands.

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Types of targeted data

A popular saying goes, “Data is not created equal". But in the wrong hands, even seemingly unimportant information can be used for fraud, identity theft, or corporate espionage. 

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Here are the top targeted data in breaches:

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1. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

Cybercriminals target names, social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, and birthdates, which are usually perfect for identity theft.

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2. Financial data

Credit or debit card numbers, bank account details, transaction histories, or cryptocurrency wallets are gold mines for cyber criminals who carry out unauthorised transactions or sell this information on the dark web.

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3. Login credentials

Usernames and passwords grant access to email accounts, social media accounts, corporate systems, and financial platforms, especially if you reuse them across platforms. If stolen, these credentials can be used to hijack your account and perform fraudulent activities.

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4. Intellectual property & business data

Trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, customer databases, and internal reports are highly valuable to competitors and cybercriminals engaging in corporate espionage.

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5. Medical records (PHI - Protected Health Information)

Healthcare data, including insurance details and medical history, is often targeted for fraud, blackmail, or resale on illegal marketplaces.

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What causes data breaches?

Data breaches don’t just happen randomly. 

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These cybercriminals often exploit weaknesses in security systems or human behaviour. Here are some of the most common causes:

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1. Cyberattacks

Cybercriminals use sophisticated methods like phishing, vishing, quishing, malware deployment, brute force attacks, SQL injections, etc, to exploit system vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access.

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2. Insider threats

Sometimes, the danger comes from within an organisation where a current or former employee with access to sensitive data may intentionally or unintentionally expose information, either for personal gain or due to poor security awareness.

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3. Weak passwords & poor authentication

Weak, commonly used, or repeated passwords make it easy for attackers to break into systems. Accounts without multi-factor authentication (MFA) are particularly vulnerable to data breaches.

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4. Lost or stolen devices

Laptops, smartphones, and USB drives containing sensitive data can easily be lost or stolen, putting confidential information at risk if not properly encrypted.

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5. Third-party vendor breaches

Companies or businesses often rely on third-party vendors for services, and if these vendors suffer a breach, their clients' data can also be compromised.

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How to prevent a data breach

Data breaches may seem inevitable, but with the right precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk.

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Cybercriminals are always looking for weaknesses, whether it's a weak password, an unpatched system, or an unsuspecting employee who clicks on the wrong link.

1. Strengthen password security and use multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Your password is often the first line of defence, and unfortunately, it’s also one of the weakest links in cybersecurity. 

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Create strong, unique passwords or paraphrases for every account, which should be at least 12-20 characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Also, enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever possible. This adds an extra layer of security, requiring a second form of verification, like a text code or fingerprint scan.

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2. Watch out for phishing emails

Not all data breaches involve sophisticated technical methods. Sometimes, all it takes is an email disguised as a message from your bank, IT department, or even your boss. 

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Phishing scams trick people into handing over login details or clicking on malicious links. 

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Always verify the sender’s email address to prevent phishing, especially if the message contains urgent requests. Instead of clicking on links, go directly to the official website to check if the request is legitimate. 

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Suspicious emails often contain spelling mistakes, strange formatting, or unexpected attachments, which are red flags that should not be ignored.

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3. Keep software and systems updated

Software updates aren’t just about new features—they often fix security vulnerabilities that hackers exploit. 

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Many attacks exploit known security flaws in outdated software, making unpatched systems an easy target. Enabling automatic updates for operating systems, applications, and security software ensures that vulnerabilities are fixed as soon as patches are available. Regularly review and remove outdated programs that no longer receive security updates to minimize risks. 

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A simple security update could have prevented the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which affected thousands of organisations worldwide. Another example was the Zero Day vulnerability in Apple-Intel Macs. Apple later released an update to fix this. 

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4. Encrypt sensitive information

Encryption ensures that even if data is stolen, it remains unreadable without the correct decryption key.

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Organisations should enable full-disk encryption on laptops and mobile devices, use end-to-end encryption for emails and communications, and secure cloud storage with encryption settings. This added layer of security makes it much harder for attackers to misuse stolen information.

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5. Educate and train your employees

68% of data breaches involve human error. 

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So, regular security awareness training can help employees recognise threats and respond appropriately. Beyond technical measures, security awareness plays a crucial role in preventing data breaches.

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Employees are often the first line of defence, and regular training can help them recognise security threats, from phishing emails to social engineering tactics. 

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Everyone has a role to play—whether at work or in your personal life. Being cautious about sharing sensitive information online, verifying requests before providing confidential data, and staying informed about the latest cyber threats can make all the difference.

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6. Regularly backup your data

Even with the best security measures in place, accidents and cyberattacks can still happen. A solid backup strategy ensures that data can be restored quickly if it is lost due to ransomware, accidental deletion, or system failure. 

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Following the 3-2-1 backup rule—keeping three copies of data on two different media types (e.g., cloud and external hard drive) with one backup copy stored offsite—provides a reliable safety net. 

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Automating backups and testing them periodically ensures they are always ready for recovery.

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7. Secure your cloud and third-party services

Many businesses rely on cloud storage and third-party vendors, but if they are not managed properly, both can introduce new security risks. 

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Choosing reputable cloud providers with strong security measures is vital, as misconfigured cloud settings can expose sensitive information. It’s also important to monitor and review third-party vendors and ensure they comply with security standards, as a system breach could put your data at risk.

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Conclusion

Preventing a data breach doesn’t always require advanced technical skills or expensive tools. It starts with awareness and simple best practices that everyone can follow. The more proactive you are, the safer your data—and your organisation—will be. 

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When protecting information, prevention is always better than dealing with the consequences of a breach. Cybersecurity is not just the responsibility of IT teams but something every employee and individual should take seriously.

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