The True Numbers behind Data Breaches – 75-50-75! 
Seems like almost every day I read about another large data breach. Maybe I just notice these articles because I am always looking for more information to put out in another Blog post? It is amazing
to think that 25% of the individuals whose records have been breached end up as victims of identity theft. The cost including lost productivity and aggravation is staggering yet I still encounter small businesses owners that feel “it can’t happen to me,” and so they continue lax security practices that put more records at risk. Well I am here to tell you that it is happening to businesses like yours every day! Come on folks! It is not that hard to at least put some basic protection in place.
Here are the numbers that you need to know:
75! - 75% of all data breaches are not the result of a targeted attack. Targeted companies are in the minority. Most breaches occur when a hacker just “surfs” on into your valuable data. You would not leave your business with the doors unlocked at night so why think you can leave your data unlocked and get away with it? You are just asking for a thief to stroll on in and help themselves to data you have been entrusted with by your customers.
50! – 50% of all data breaches are caused by employee error. Spend some time with your employees reinforcing the necessity of protecting data with common sense measures. Leaving a firewall off, carelessness with a lap top or not updating anti-virus software are practices that can mean the end of your business. Training can help your employees keep the “black hats” out of your network.
75! – 75% of breaches are possible because a hacker has guessed what your password is! How many of you have not changed the password on our fire wall from the default “Admin” password? Using strong passwords works to keep the hackers at bay.
For most of you, just following these simple-common sense business processes will help keep you from having to explain to your customers why you didn’t care enough about them to protect their data. That is not a conversation I would like to have ever!
Stew Nelson
Senior Risk Advisor
