Posted on November 14, 2013 | | Categories: File Security
The definition seems obvious for any organization. A data breach occurs when data that was supposed to be protected from unauthorized access is exposed.
What may not be as clear cut is all the ways that sensitive data can be compromised. These include malicious attacks, accidental mistakes, and employee incompetence. Confidential information can fall into the wrong hands during electronic file transfers, accessing lost or stolen devices, or because of hackers' infiltration into a company's servers. Even sending an unsecure email could qualify as a data breach, depending on the information it contained.
Sometimes known as an incident response plan, a data breach response plan is a critical component for ensuring your company is able to properly respond to a data breach. As complex as the causes of data breaches can be, the steps for responding are fairly straightforward, though time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. Dealing with the breach will be monumentally more challenging if you don't already have a data breach response plan in place.
Generally agreed upon steps include
If your company does not yet have a data breach plan in place, or if you've been thinking it might be time to update your current policy, here are four great resources that you'll want to review.
Data Breach Response Guide (Experian Data Breach Resolution Team)
Here is a comprehensive 27-page PDF that overviews how to create your data breach response plan, practicing your plan, responding to a data breach and auditing your plan.
Security Breach Response Plan Toolkit (International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP))
Use this questionnaire to guide the development of your incident response plan. Involve your executive and IT team so everyone can better understand all facets of the process.
Specifically designed for small businesses, the BBB provides a series of articles and resources to help companies understand the issues surrounding data security, as well as how to build a response plan.
Model Data Security Breach Preparedness Guide (American Bar Association)
For those with limited access to legal counsel, this PDF provides an overview from the legal perspective of how to prepare for a data breach. It obviously isn't a substitute for seeking advice from a lawyer who knows or can learn the details of your specific situation as well as the laws that apply in your state and industry. However, it does provide some good general information that could help you launch a discussion with your legal team.
Definitions of Personal Information and Breach of Security by State (Baker Hostetler law firm)
If your company does business in more than one state, this is a great starting point to review how different states' data breach laws compare. Again, it doesn't take the place of your legal team, but it's a helpful overview.
What other resources do you know about that should be included in this list? Let us know in the comments!