How to Handle a Data Leak at the Workplace

A data leak is typically defined as the unauthorized release of confidential information to an external source, either accidentally or maliciously. When a data leak occurs at the workplace, it can have devastating consequences for both employers and employees ranging from financial losses and damaged reputations to legal action and even jail time. As such, much like pest control solutions for an office rodent problem, this too should be controlled.

Here are some top steps to take.

Contain the Data Leak

The first step is to contain the data leak. This means taking all necessary steps to prevent further loss of confidential data. For example, if the breach occurred due to a phishing attack, then you should immediately reset passwords, disable any accounts related to the attack, and delete or quarantine any infected files. Or, if the breach occurred due to a hardware failure, you should patch the affected system up immediately.

Keep in mind that one goal should be to limit access to confidential data while still maintaining normal business operations.

Investigate the Data Leak

Once you have contained the breach, it is important that you investigate it thoroughly to determine the cause and extent of the data leak. That’s how you’ll understand what happened and why, as well as identify any areas that need to be improved.

Investigating a data leak will depend on its source and severity. You may need to enlist outside help from legal or IT professionals.

Notify Those Affected

Once you have gathered all the necessary information about the data leak, it is important that you inform those affected by the breach. Depending on the severity of the breach, this could be employees, customers, or even regulators. It is best to notify them as soon as possible and provide them with clear guidance on how they can protect themselves.

At the same time, you want to handle notifications sensitively so as not to cause panic or further anxiety.

There are different means of communication for different scenarios. You want to choose the most appropriate means of communication depending on the situation. For example,  if the breach is urgent and requires immediate action then SMS or phone calls may be more effective than emails.

Be Compliant

Finally, you should make sure that you comply with all applicable security and privacy regulations. Depending on the data involved and where the breach occurred, different laws may apply. For example, if the data was sourced from a European country then General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies. If the breach happened in California then one must comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Failure to obey applicable laws and regulations typically means hefty fines. Plus being compliant with the law will also help to protect your organization’s reputation and credibility in the eyes of customers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Data leaks can be damaging to an organization both financially and reputationally so it is important that organizations take the necessary steps to ensure they are properly handled. This includes containing the breach, investigating it thoroughly, notifying those affected, and being compliant with applicable laws and regulations.  By following these steps, organizations can minimize the damage caused by a data leak while still maintaining their operations.