A systematic evaluation of a cybersecurity incident to determine the scope and impact of a data breach.
Description
A Breach Assessment is a crucial process in the cybersecurity industry that involves analyzing and evaluating a data breach incident. This process helps organizations understand how the breach occurred, what vulnerabilities were exploited, and which sensitive data may have been compromised. During a breach assessment, cybersecurity professionals conduct forensic investigations to gather evidence, assess the response effectiveness, and identify the root cause. The information obtained from a breach assessment is essential for compliance with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, as it allows organizations to report incidents accurately and implement necessary changes to their security protocols. Furthermore, it aids in enhancing the overall security posture of the organization by identifying weaknesses and formulating plans to prevent future breaches. Organizations that conduct thorough breach assessments can mitigate damages, protect their reputation, and maintain customer trust.
Examples
- The Equifax data breach in 2017 led to a comprehensive breach assessment that uncovered the exploitation of a known vulnerability in their software, affecting approximately 147 million individuals.
- After the Capital One breach in 2019, a breach assessment revealed that a misconfigured firewall allowed unauthorized access to sensitive customer data, prompting the company to reassess its cloud security measures.
Additional Information
- Breach assessments are often conducted in accordance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-61 or ISO 27001.
- Results from a breach assessment can inform an organization's incident response plan and help train staff to recognize and respond to future threats.