Keys to preventing data leaks

 

A data breach is a security incident in which confidential information is accessed or extracted without permission, which may include personal data, credentials or any other sensitive information of individuals and organisations. Here, we explain in more detail what it means and the fundamental keys to preventing a data breach.

 

What is a data leak?

Data leakage is one of the most common and damaging incidents in the field of cybersecurity.

A data breach occurs when confidential information is accidentally or unlawfully exposed. This can happen inside or outside an organisation, and can be the result of a cyber-attack, human error or a failure in security systems. The information leaked in a data breach varies widely in content. It can be personal data, such as names, addresses and social security numbers; financial data, such as credit card numbers and bank account details; or corporate data, such as product details and business strategies. The consequences of a data breach are generally significant. For individuals, it can end up as identity theft or financial fraud. For businesses, it can result in legal fines, loss of reputation and damage to customer relationships. Data leakage can be a quick event, where data is exposed and used immediately, or it can be a slow process, where data is collected over a long period of time before it is used.

 

 

Main types of data leakage

Data leaks are differentiated into different types such as:

Interns

In internal data leaks, data is leaked or leaked from within the organisation. It happens when employees or persons with authorised access to confidential information disclose or extract it in an unauthorised way, intentionally or unintentionally. Also, when an unauthorised person outside the organisation gains access to the organisation and its data. Generally, the latter type usually corresponds to a cyber-attack. Some of the main causes of insider leaks include:

• Disgruntled employees or employees with malicious intent who steal data for personal purposes or to sell to third parties.
• Lack of adequate controls and monitoring of the activities of users with access to sensitive data.
• Lack of clear information security policies and insufficient staff training.
• Vulnerabilities in systems and applications that allow unauthorised access to information.
• Cyber-attacks executed to obtain the information.

External

External data leaks are incidents in which confidential information is leaked without authorisation, willingly or unwillingly, by persons or entities outside the organisation, from outside the organisation.

Within external corporate data leaks, those caused by third parties represent a significant threat to an organisation. These leaks occur when an external entity that has legitimate access to an organisation’s data, such as a service provider or business partner, inadvertently or maliciously exposes that information. Third parties within an organisation have access to a wide range of corporate data, from personal information of employees and customers to trade secrets and intellectual property. If they do not follow appropriate security measures, they become a weak link in the information security chain. To mitigate this risk, organisations must ensure that all third parties they work with have robust information security policies and procedures in place. This involves conducting cybersecurity audits, including data security clauses in contracts and, most effectively, automated, continuous, real-time monitoring of third-party risk.

 

4 causes of data leakage

Data leakage can be caused by voluntary and malicious acts or involuntary acts.

The most common causes of unintentional corporate data leaks include:

Use of suspicious software

Suspicious programmes, often disguised as legitimate software, can infiltrate an organisation’s systems and give illegitimate access to confidential information. They are introduced by employees unaware of the risks or by external attackers. Once inside, these programmes collect and transmit sensitive corporate data. Infiltration of malware into the corporate system can occur through unwitting installation of malicious software, use of unauthorised messaging or cloud storage applications, downloading infected files or connecting to insecure public networks. Constant supervision and monitoring of activities is essential to detect and prevent the use of malicious software that can lead to data leaks.

Vulnerabilities in the system

Failures in firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security controls can leave data exposed to external attacks. In addition, inappropriate network configurations, such as the setting of access permissions, communication protocols, and other network settings, are likely to open unauthorised access to information. Also, lack of security patches and updates to applications and operating systems or lack of data encryption and protection make information more vulnerable to theft.

Social engineering

Social engineering is a major cause of corporate data breaches. Cybercriminals manipulate employees into revealing confidential information, often through phishing or phishing tactics. These attacks become very sophisticated, masquerading as legitimate communications from colleagues or superiors. Social engineering exploits the human tendency to trust and cooperate. To circumvent it, companies must implement cybersecurity training and awareness and appropriate security policies to mitigate this risk.

Improper design or implementation of security protocols

If security policies are not properly implemented and enforced, this creates vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit to gain access to sensitive organisational data. It is crucial that companies design robust security protocols and ensure that they are properly enforced. Ongoing training and security audits are essential to prevent data leaks, as well as monitoring user activities and reporting security incidents. Security protocols must also be regularly reviewed, tested and updated to ensure their effectiveness.

 

Tips to prevent data leakage

We recommend that you consider the following tips on how to prevent a data leakage:

Use two-factor authentication

Dual authentication is a security measure that requires users to provide two forms of identification before accessing systems. This can be something the user knows, such as a password; something they possess, such as a mobile phone to receive a verification code; or something inherent to the user, such as a fingerprint. This additional layer of security makes it difficult for cybercriminals to access data, even if they have obtained a password. Dual authentication is a valuable investment in protecting corporate data.

 

 

In addition, two-factor authentication can be complemented with other measures such as data encryption and activity monitoring to further strengthen corporate information security. You may be interested in our publication→ Good information security practices for your company.

Keeping equipment up to date

Outdated systems have security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals try to exploit to execute attacks. Updates include security patches that fix vulnerabilities as they are detected. In addition, newer versions of software and hardware often incorporate better security measures. It is therefore crucial that companies implement a policy of regular updates and ensure that all devices, tools, systems and applications are up to date. This requires investments in time and resources, but is an essential preventive measure to ensure the protection of corporate data.

Regulating access to confidential information

It involves implementing a system in the organisation that ensures that only authorised employees have access to sensitive data. Access control systems, such as role-based authentication, are an example of such a regulation. Limiting access not only reduces the possibility of data being compromised internally, but also reduces the risk of cyber criminals gaining access through compromised accounts.

Update data security policies

Given the continuous evolution of threats, data security policies easily become obsolete. It is therefore imperative that organisations establish a recurrent process of updating these policies to incorporate the latest technologies and procedures. In addition to adapting to changes in the technology environment, security policy updates also allow organisations to incorporate new regulatory requirements, organisational growth and change, and reviews following a security incident.

 

Cyber-intelligence for the prevention of data leaks

Cyber Intelligence is an essential tool for the prevention and localisation of corporate data breaches, providing the information needed to understand, mitigate and respond to threats. It enables organisations to identify and monitor suspicious activities, both internal and external, that may indicate potential or actual activity to access, extract or leak sensitive information. Cyber Intelligence is based on the collection and analysis of information about potential threats in cyberspace. It includes the identification of suspicious behaviour patterns, the detection of open security holes and exposed vulnerabilities and the prediction of future threats. This enables organisations to adopt a proactive, risk-based security approach to protect their sensitive data. One of the main advantages of Cyber Intelligence is its ability to provide a real-time view of security threats. In this way, it enables organisations to respond quickly to threats, thus minimising the impact of any data leakage. In addition, Cyber Intelligence helps organisations to better understand the threat landscape. This includes identifying threat actors, their tactics, techniques and procedures, and the types of data they are seeking. With this information, companies can develop more effective defence strategies. By incorporating Cyber Intelligence into their data cybersecurity strategy and combining advanced analytics, constant monitoring and security best practices, organisations significantly strengthen their defence posture against data breaches.

 

Protect your organisation’s data with Kartos By Enthec

The Kartos By Enthec helps you protect your organization’s data thanks to continuous, real-time automated monitoring of the external attack surface.
Using Artificial Intelligence developed in-house, the Kartos XTI Watchbots Cyber Intelligence platform can detect in real time any corporate data leak, both its own and that of your third parties, issue an alert, and locate the vulnerability that caused it.
Don’t wait any longer to protect your data and negate the consequences of any leak. Contact us to learn about our solutions.