3 Lessons Learned From 3 of the World’s Biggest Data Breaches
Cyberterrorism happens fast and (at times) unnoticed
Cyberattacks happen every day, but the sophistication of some of the most recent data breaches teaches us several lessons about safeguarding sensitive data. Cyberterrorism happens swiftly and oftentimes unnoticed—even to companies like Yahoo and Zoom. Attacks can have monumental effects on businesses, individuals, and even governments. We examined some of the world’s biggest data breaches and here are three lessons that should resonate with more organizations, no matter the industry.
“The top three most attacked industries in 2022 were education/research, government, and healthcare. ”
Source: CPR
Lesson 1: Cybersecurity is an ongoing process
Cyberattacks have been happening for decades—and cybercriminals are getting more creative and significantly more sophisticated. When Mailchimp had a data breach in January of this year, it was their second time in six months to be breached. Additionally, the unauthorized actors sent a very convincing phishing email to a list of customers who had cryptocurrency wallets. The email was written with impeccable grammar and on brand with the format of the cryptocurrency platform.
Cybercriminals are stepping up their deceptive games, so organizations (small and large) should level up as well. Cybersecurity is a continuous process that requires constant attention and adaptation to budding threats and vulnerabilities. According to CyberNews, 73% of companies are not prepared for a cyberattack.
Lesson 2: Invest in cybersecurity today to protect your organization tomorrow
In 2022, data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.35 million, according to AAG. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when you will be breached by cybercriminals. By investing in valuable network security today, you won’t have to pay more to triage your data breach tomorrow.
Ecommerce platform Slickwraps was warned by a security analyst that they had many backend vulnerabilities, but they didn’t heed the warning. The analyst didn’t have nefarious intent but prepared to disclose a comprehensive vulnerability report. Had Slickwraps heeded the warning of the analyst, they could have addressed it. The cost of their decision was their business reputation and made them the focus of many news articles—and a cautionary tale. Being proactive to secure your sensitive data today means peace of mind tomorrow.
Lesson 3: Have a backup and continuity plan in place
It’s nearly impossible to conduct business in today’s digital ecosystem without using electronic storage for sensitive data; loss of that data is not only inconvenient, it can have severe operational (and financial) implications. In the case of the 2022 ransomware attack of the Los Angeles Unified School District, private records were accessed, and all operations were disrupted—in the second-largest school district in the nation. The attack prevented access of important data, and because they refused to pay the ransom, the data was released on the dark web.
Prior to the attack, the school district was warned of their system vulnerabilities and failed to remedy the issues. It was later determined that they did not have a process in place to make sure they were complying with security standards, their district lacked response training to cyberattacks, and their computers had substandard security. Proactive planning with a strategic backup and continuity plan ensures that you’re successfully ready to triage a breach and continue running the organization.
Cybersecurity should always be top of mind
Datapath is a nationwide trusted partner in navigating the complex and ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity. With a team of certified experts and state-of-the-art tools, we are committed to delivering top-tier Managed Security Services that prioritize your organization's safety and compliance. Contact us today to learn how our comprehensive security solutions can safeguard your business around the clock.