Imagine all your critical data—customer information, business transactions, business innovations—vanishing in seconds. A data breach isn’t just a threat; it’s a real nightmare. From e-commerce to healthcare, these attacks don’t just steal information—they damage reputations and disrupt operations.
According to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2024 report, the average cost of a data breach has now reached USD 4.88 million, a 10% increase from last year—the highest in history. If the breached data is stored in a public cloud, that number jumps to USD 5.17 million!
Don’t want to be the next victim? Don’t worry, this article will discuss the best strategies to prevent data breaches and five key solutions to protect your data before it’s too late.
Understanding Data Breach Prevention
Data breach prevention refers to a set of strategies and technologies designed to prevent unauthorized access, theft, or leakage of sensitive data. This includes protection through encryption, multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and real-time threat monitoring. The goal is to reduce the risk of cyberattacks that can harm businesses financially and reputationally.
How Do Data Breaches Happen?
Data breaches don’t happen randomly—they exploit vulnerabilities. From phishing scams tricking employees into revealing credentials, malware infiltrating systems, to exploiting security weaknesses in cloud and applications, all can serve as entry points for hackers. Human errors, such as weak passwords or lack of multi-factor authentication, also increase the risk. Without proper protection strategies, sensitive data can fall into the wrong hands in seconds.
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The Impact of Data Breaches: Financial Losses and Data at Risk
From skyrocketing financial losses to reputational damage in the eyes of customers, the effects can be long-lasting. For individuals, leaked personal information can lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and even extortion. In the digital world, a single security gap can trigger an unpredictable domino effect. So, how significant are the impacts of a data breach? Here are some key threats to watch out for.
Massive Financial Losses
The cost of recovery from a data breach can reach millions of dollars, especially for businesses that must pay regulatory fines, forensic investigations, and customer compensation. IBM reports that the average cost of a data breach in 2024 reached USD 4.88 million, a figure that continues to rise yearly.
Risks of Identity Theft and Fraud
For individuals, leaked personal information such as ID numbers, credit card details, or login credentials can open the door for hackers to commit identity theft. This data is often sold on the dark web and used for various forms of financial fraud.
Legal Consequences and Regulatory Fines
Many countries have strict data protection regulations, such as GDPR in Europe or CCPA in the US. If businesses fail to protect customer data, they can face hefty fines and lawsuits, further worsening their financial situation.
Disrupted Operations, Paralyzed Business
Data breaches that infect systems with ransomware or cause leaks of sensitive data can disrupt business operations. Companies may lose access to critical systems, face prolonged downtime, and suffer significant losses due to service interruptions.
Understanding the Main Sources of Data Breaches
Without a clear understanding of these threat sources, businesses and individuals are more vulnerable to attacks that can cause financial and reputational harm. So, what are the main sources of data breaches? Here are some of the most exploited weak points.
Weak Credentials
Easy-to-guess or reused passwords are prime targets for hackers. Using techniques like phishing or credential stuffing, they can access critical accounts in seconds.
Phishing Attacks
Fake emails or messages that appear legitimate are often used to trick victims into revealing login information or downloading malware. This tactic remains one of the most effective methods for hackers to steal data.
Outdated Security Systems
Software or devices without the latest security patches have vulnerabilities that can be exploited. Hackers often use these weaknesses to infiltrate corporate networks and steal data.
Employee Negligence in Safeguarding Data
Human errors, such as clicking on malicious links, using unprotected personal devices, or accidentally leaking information, are often the main factors behind data breaches.
Uncovering 3 Major Data Breach Cases and Their Impact
Data breaches are becoming increasingly rampant in the digital era, targeting platforms ranging from social media to business services. Between 2019 and 2024, several major incidents shook the world. Here are some of the most notable ones.
LinkedIn: 700 Million Users Affected (2021)
In June 2021, data from 700 million LinkedIn users—about 90% of its total user base—was uploaded to a dark web forum. A hacker known as “God User” used scraping techniques to collect information from LinkedIn’s API. The leaked data included emails, phone numbers, locations, genders, and other social media details. Although LinkedIn claimed this wasn’t a data breach since no passwords were exposed, the information could still be used for social engineering and phishing attacks.
Facebook: 533 Million Accounts Leaked (2019 – 2021)
In April 2019, two sets of Facebook data were found exposed online, containing information from over 533 million accounts, including phone numbers and user IDs. Although initially not considered a major threat, in 2021, this data was uploaded for free on the dark web, sparking a new wave of cybercrime. This incident even prompted security researcher Troy Hunt to update HaveIBeenPwned’s policy, allowing users to check if their phone numbers were part of the leaked data.
Adobe: 153 Million User Credentials Stolen (2013)
In October 2013, hackers stole nearly three million encrypted credit card records from Adobe customers, along with login credentials. Adobe later updated the figure to 38 million “active” accounts. However, further investigations revealed that over 150 million username and password combinations had been leaked. This breach led to a massive lawsuit, with Adobe paying over USD 1 million to settle the claims.
5 Powerful Ways to Prevent Data Breaches
Data breaches can happen anytime, from hacker attacks to internal negligence. With evolving threats, businesses must be more proactive in protecting sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. How can you safeguard your data from these threats? Here are five key steps to implement.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Relying solely on passwords isn’t enough. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring additional verification methods like OTP or biometrics. This makes it harder for hackers to access accounts even if primary credentials are compromised.
Encrypt Sensitive Data
Ensure that stored or transmitted data remains protected with end-to-end encryption. This way, even if data is stolen, its contents remain unreadable without a valid encryption key.
Implement Real-Time Threat Monitoring and Detection
Use AI and automation-based security solutions to detect suspicious activity before a breach occurs. These systems can identify anomalous patterns and respond to threats quickly, reducing the risk of cyberattacks.
Adopt Zero Trust Security
The Zero Trust security model ensures that no user or device is trusted by default, even within internal networks. Every access request must be verified, reducing the likelihood of exploitation by malicious actors.
Educate Employees on Data Security
Human error remains one of the leading causes of data breaches. Regular cybersecurity training for employees can help them recognize threats like phishing and social engineering, as well as adopt best security practices.
Prevent Data Breaches with CDT: Protect Your Data with the Best Solutions
Central Data Technology (CDT) offers five top solutions to protect businesses from data breach threats. With advanced technology and a holistic approach, CDT helps companies strengthen data security without sacrificing productivity. From prevention to mitigation, each solution is designed to effectively and efficiently address cyber threats.
Okta: Zero Trust Access to Prevent Data Breaches
Okta delivers Zero Trust Security with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Least Privilege Access to ensure only verified users can access systems. Equipped with AI-driven adaptive authentication, Okta automatically detects suspicious activity and adjusts access policies without disrupting productivity. Its broad integration with various business applications and cloud services enables seamless access management, while automated lifecycle management prevents old accounts from becoming vulnerabilities for hackers.
With this approach, Okta provides maximum protection without compromising operational efficiency.
Zscaler for Users: Zero Trust Security for Remote Access
Zscaler for Users ensures secure access in the hybrid work era with Zero Trust Exchange, replacing traditional VPNs vulnerable to attacks. Its AI-powered threat protection automatically detects and blocks cyber threats, while Cloud DLP (Data Loss Prevention) and CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) protect sensitive data from leaks.
With AI-driven analytics, companies can detect and stop suspicious activity in real-time, making Zscaler a secure, flexible, and efficient solution for supporting business productivity.
Hitachi Vantara: Intelligent Data Protection with Immutable Storage
Hitachi Vantara offers the Hitachi Content Platform (HCP) with immutable storage, ensuring backup data cannot be altered or deleted, safeguarding it from ransomware. With automated compliance management, adhering to regulations like GDPR and CCPA becomes easier, while real-time monitoring and anomaly detection enable quick threat detection and response.
This solution is designed for businesses looking to secure large-scale data without sacrificing performance and operational efficiency.
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator: Unmask Encrypted Traffic, Close Security Gaps
F5 BIG-IP SSL Orchestrator addresses blind spots in encrypted traffic with SSL/TLS traffic decryption, allowing security devices like DLP, IPS, and firewalls to work more effectively. Its dynamic service chaining optimizes data traffic processing with full visibility, while intelligent traffic orchestration adjusts security policies based on access context.
With this solution, companies can enhance digital communication security without hindering network performance.
AWS IAM: Strict Access Control with Multi-Factor Authentication
AWS IAM provides strict control over access to cloud resources with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and the least privilege principle. The AWS Security Token Service (STS) offers temporary credentials for short-term access to reduce the risk of account theft, while AWS Organizations enables centralized cross-account access management.
With this approach, AWS IAM ensures comprehensive protection without compromising business operational flexibility.
Protect Your Data with the Best Solutions from CDT
Implement the best data security solutions with Central Data Technology (CDT), part of the CTI Group, to ensure your business data is protected from cyber threats. As an authorized distributor of F5 & Hitachi Vantara and an authorized advanced partner of Okta, Zscaler, and AWS in Indonesia, CDT offers comprehensive solutions ranging from Identity & Access Management, Zero Trust Security, Data Protection, SSL Traffic Orchestration, to Cloud Security to optimize your digital infrastructure security.
Consult your business data security needs with our team here and start your journey toward a safer and more trusted digital future.
Author: Danurdhara Suluh Prasasta
CTI Group Content Writer
