Data leakage is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential information from within an organization to someone outside. It can happen intentionally or by accident.
Unlike data breaches, which are caused by deliberate attacks from outside the organization, data leakage comes from within. It can result from mistakes, security lapses, system misconfigurations, or sabotage.
In today’s digital world, data leakage poses a severe risk to organizations and individuals. Identifying and addressing its common causes can help you mitigate these risks and stay safe.
Insider threats
Insider threats can be intentional or accidental. In either case, they pose significant risks.
Malicious insiders
Malicious insiders are employees or contractors who intentionally leak sensitive information for personal gain or to disrupt the organization. They often have legitimate access to data, making their actions challenging to detect.
A recent example is Qian Sang, the former Yahoo employee who is accused of stealing 570,000 pages of the company’s source code on his last day before joining a competitor.
Accidental insiders
Not all insider threats are malicious. Sometimes, employees simply make mistakes. They allow sensitive information to fall into the wrong hands because they’re unaware of security protocols or don’t understand how to follow them. For example:
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Email errors: Sending sensitive emails or documents to the wrong address.
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Improper disposal: Throwing away confidential documents without shredding them first.
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Unsecured sharing: Using non-secure methods to share information, such as personal email accounts or file-sharing services.
To minimize the risk of accidental disclosures:
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Invest in regular security awareness training for all employees.
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Establish clear security protocols and ensure everyone understands and follows them.
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Implement strict access controls and monitoring.
Non-secure data transfers
Data is most vulnerable when it’s in transit. Non-secure transfers expose data to the risk of interception or unauthorized access by cybercriminals.
For example, transferring data without effective encryption, or using non-secure channels such as public Wi-Fi networks or unprotected file-sharing services.
To transfer data securely:
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Always use encryption protocols and secure channels.
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Implement Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) to protect data in transit.
System misconfigurations
System misconfigurations are a critical source of data leakage that’s often overlooked.
Wrongly configured databases, cloud storage, or applications can expose sensitive information and leave systems vulnerable to even low-skilled attackers.
Misconfigurations can occur due to incorrect setup, poor understanding of security settings, or failure to follow best practices. For example, the 2019 Capital One data breach exposed the credit card data of more than 100 million customers. The cause was a misconfigured AWS server.
To keep your organization safe:
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Regularly audit your systems.
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Deploy automated tools to detect vulnerabilities.
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Ensure security configurations are correctly implemented and maintained.
Vigilance is critical
Understanding the common causes of data leakage is critical for implementing effective security measures.
Insider threats, accidental disclosures, non-secure data transfers, and system misconfigurations are all significant risks that require ongoing vigilance and proactive mitigation.
