What Is a Data Breach?

# What is a data breach? ## What is a data breach? A data breach is any security incident in which unauthorized parties access sensitive or confidential information, including personal data (Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, healthcare data) and corporate data (customer records, intellectual property, financial information). According to IBM’s *Cost of a Data Breach 2025* report, the global average cost of a data breach is USD 4.44 million. According to the *Cost of a Data Breach* *2025* report, stolen or compromised credentials is one of the top five most common initial attack vectors, accounting for 10% of data breaches and taking up to 186 days to identify. In 2017, hackers breached the credit reporting agency Equifax and accessed the personal data of more than 143 million Americans. Organizations that extensively integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and automation into security operations resolve breaches 80 days faster than those that don’t, according to the *Cost of a Data Breach 2025* report.

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1. What is a data breach and what do we have to do in case of a data breach? – European Commission

A data breach occurs when the data for which your company/organisation is responsible suffers a security incident resulting in a breach of confidentiality,

2. Data Breach – Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. A data breach is an intrusion into an organization’s system, network, or database, by an outside or internal entity, resulting in unauthorized access to confidential or secured information. #### File a Complaint. File a detailed complaint with www.ic3.gov. The complaint should contain all required data in provided fields. Prior to filing a complaint with the IC3, please read the following information regarding terms and conditions. Should you have additional questions prior to filing your complaint, view FAQ for more information on inquiries such as:. * What happens after I file a complaint? Complaints filed via this website are analyzed and may be referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement and partner agencies for possible investigation. The complaint information you submit to this site is encrypted via secure socket layer (SSL) encryption. I understand any contact or investigation regarding any complaint I file on this website is initiated at the discretion of the agency receiving the complaint information.

3. What is a Data Breach and How to Prevent It? | Fortinet

– [AI-Powered Security Services](/solutions/enterprise-midsize-business/security-as-a-service/fortiguard-subscriptions). – [AI-Powered Security Services](/solutions/enterprise-midsize-business/security-as-a-service/fortiguard-subscriptions/sase). [![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)](/resources/analyst-reports/gartner-magic-quadrant-siem) [Fortinet named a Challenger in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)](/resources/analyst-reports/gartner-magic-quadrant-siem) [Get the Report](/resources/analyst-reports/gartner-magic-quadrant-siem). [![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)](https://global.fortinet.com/emea-lp-en-service-provider-energy-paper) [Energy- and Space-Efficient Security in Telco Networks](https://global.fortinet.com/emea-lp-en-service-provider-energy-paper). [![](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=)](https://www.fortinet.com/blog/industry-trends/2025-security-awareness-report-why-training-works-and-where-organizations-still-fall-short) [2025 Security Awareness and Training Global Research Report](https://www.fortinet.com/blog/industry-trends/2025-security-awareness-report-why-training-works-and-where-organizations-still-fall-short). [Read the Blog](https://www.fortinet.com/blog/industry-trends/2025-security-awareness-report-why-training-works-and-where-organizations-still-fall-short). [DLP TIPS AND GUIDANCE](https://global.fortinet.com/lp-en-wc-rethinking-data-loss?utm_content=cg-data-security-cta) [2025 THREAT LANDSCAPE REPORT](/resources/reports/threat-landscape-report?utm_content=cg-dlp-cta). Download Now](https://global.fortinet.com/lp-en-wc-rethinking-data-loss?utm_content=cg-data-security-ribbon). A [data breach](https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/data-breaches-are-a-growing-epidemic–how-do-you-ensure-you-re-n) can lead to organizations not only losing their data, which could be sensitive financial information or corporate secrets, but they can also suffer fines, financial loss, and reputational damage, which are often irreparable. A data breach against financial firm Equifax between May and June 2017 affected more than [153 million people](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/business/equifax-cyberattack.html) in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. It exposed customers’ personal data, including birth dates, driver’s license numbers, names, and Social Security numbers, as well as around 200,000 credit card numbers. * [Data Leaks: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention](https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/data-leak). * [Notice of Recent Security Incident](https://www.fortinet.com/blog/business-and-technology/notice-of-recent-security-incident).