What is a data breach?

A data breach fundamentally refers to an incident where sensitive, protected, or confidential data is accessed or disclosed in an unauthorized manner. This can result from various forms of cyberattacks, such as hacking, phishing, or malware attacks, where an intruder gains access to systems or information without permission. Breaches can impact individuals and organizations alike, leading to the exposure of personal data, financial information, intellectual property, and more.

In the context of information security, understanding what constitutes a data breach is crucial for developing effective security policies and response strategies. By identifying the key attributes of a data breach—namely the unauthorized access component—it enables organizations to design preventative measures and educate their employees against potential threats.

The other concepts presented relate to different aspects of cybersecurity but do not accurately encapsulate the definition of a data breach. A routine security check is a preventative measure, a software vulnerability refers to flaws or weaknesses in programs that can be exploited, and data loss prevention techniques aim to protect data from being lost rather than focusing specifically on unauthorized access to that data.