Use Your Favorite Search Engine And Search For World's Great

Use Your Favorite Search Engine And Search For Worlds Greatest Data

Use your favorite search engine and search for “world’s greatest data breaches and hacks.†Scan through the hits until you find visual diagrams or a text-based list of major data breaches that have occurred recently. (Major data breaches are defined as those in excess of 30,000 records.) Select and carefully review at least two of these data breaches. Briefly describe the two data breaches you selected. Explain in layman’s terms how you think these breaches occurred. Discuss whether or not you agree with Verizon’s assertion that over 80% of breaches are caused by human error. Describe how appropriate governance frameworks might have prevented these data breaches from occurring. Support your statements with evidence from your sources.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Data breaches have become a pervasive issue in the digital age, affecting millions of individuals and organizations worldwide. High-profile breaches often compromise sensitive information, leading to financial loss, reputational damage, and legal consequences. To understand how such breaches occur and how they can be prevented, it is essential to analyze specific cases, comprehend the underlying causes, and evaluate the role of human error and governance frameworks.

Selected Data Breaches

Two recent and significant data breaches include the Equifax breach of 2017 and the Capital One breach of 2019. The Equifax breach involved the exposure of approximately 147 million Americans' sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The breach was primarily attributed to a failure to patch a known software vulnerability. In contrast, the Capital One breach compromised over 100 million credit card applications, revealing personal information such as names, addresses, and social security numbers. This incident resulted from a misconfigured web application firewall, which allowed an attacker to exploit a vulnerability and access the data stored in Amazon Web Services cloud environments.

Mechanisms of the Breaches

The Equifax breach occurred due to neglecting to apply a security patch for the Apache Struts framework, which had a known vulnerability. Attackers exploited this lapse by sending malicious requests via the unpatched system, gaining access to the company's databases. In your layman's terms, it was like leaving a door unlocked that was supposed to be secured with a simple software update, and an intruder just walked in because the security was outdated.

The Capital One breach involved a hacker exploiting a misconfiguration in the web application firewall. The attacker was able to use a specific vulnerability to gain access to stored data in cloud storage. Think of it as leaving the back door of a house slightly open due to a wrongly set alarm system, allowing an intruder to slip inside unnoticed and take valuable information.

Human Error and Its Role in Data Breaches

Verizon’s assertion that over 80% of breaches are caused by human error resonates with many cybersecurity experts' views. Human errors such as failing to update systems, misconfiguring security settings, or falling for phishing scams substantially increase the risk of breaches. In both analyzed cases, lapses—either neglecting to patch known vulnerabilities or misconfiguring firewalls—highlight how human actions or omissions directly facilitate breaches. While sophisticated cyberattacks are often at play, the human factor remains a critical vulnerability that organizations must address.

Preventive Measures through Governance Frameworks

Effective governance frameworks can significantly mitigate the risk of data breaches. Frameworks like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework provide structured guidelines for identifying, protecting against, and responding to cyber threats. For instance, regular security training can raise awareness among employees about phishing scams, reducing the likelihood of human error. Implementing continuous vulnerability assessment and patch management processes ensures known security flaws are promptly addressed, preventing exploitation as seen in the Equifax case. Additionally, configuration management protocols and access controls, enforced through governance policies, can prevent misconfigurations like those seen in Capital One. Deployment of comprehensive incident response plans also ensures swift action when breaches occur, minimizing damage.

Conclusion

Analyzing recent major data breaches underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity governance to prevent human-led errors and oversight. Both the Equifax and Capital One breaches exemplify how neglecting basic security measures can lead to extensive data loss. While technological defenses are vital, organizations must recognize that human factors often contribute to vulnerabilities. Implementing and maintaining rigorous governance frameworks, along with ongoing training and vulnerability management, are essential strategies to protect sensitive information and uphold organizational integrity in the digital era.

References

• Castronovo, D., & Gupta, A. (2018). Cybersecurity frameworks and organizational resilience. Journal of Cybersecurity, 4(3), 273-284.
• Eydou, N., & Djeffal, S. (2020). Analyzing the role of human error in cybersecurity incidents. International Journal of Cybersecurity, 5(2), 89-102.
• Gerstein, J. (2019). The Capital One data breach explained. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/30/business/capital-one-hack.html
• Johnson, E., & Liu, S. (2020). Data breach case studies and best practices. Cybersecurity Review, 1(1), 45-60.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2018). Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (Version 1.1). NIST.
• Ponemon Institute. (2019). Cost of a Data Breach Report. IBM Security.
• Shah, S., & Kumar, R. (2019). Software patching and security vulnerability management. Journal of Information Security, 12(4), 301-310.
• Smith, K. (2019). The Equifax breach – lessons learned. Cybersecurity Insights. https://cybersecurityinsights.com/equifax-breach-lessons
• Verizon. (2022). Data Breach Investigations Report. Verizon Enterprise Solutions.
• Williams, H., & Moore, T. (2021). Enhancing cybersecurity governance through structured frameworks. International Journal of Information Security, 20(1), 55-70.