Data Loss vs Data Leak: What’s the Difference [2025]

• 19 November, 2023
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Data Loss vs Data Leak: What’s the Difference

Data loss happens when confidential information is deleted by mistake or taken without permission. This can occur due to mistakes in information systems or actions by cybercriminals who steal data. Data leaks refer to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information due to vulnerabilities in the digital environment.

Finding and fixing data leaks is quite complex. These issues often appear at the connection points of important systems in a company and its vendor network.

In cybersecurity, people often misuse the terms data leak, data breach, and data loss. They use these terms interchangeably, even though they have different meanings. While there is some overlap in their meanings, it is important to know that these phrases refer to different events.

Prior to delving into the discourse surrounding Data Loss Prevention (DLP) and data leak cleanup solutions, it is imperative to first address the need for accurate terminology in order to alleviate any existing confusion.

In this article, we will study more about the various aspects of data loss vs. data leak, which will certainly assist us in understanding all the things about the same.

What is Data Loss?

Data loss encompasses various scenarios, such as the inadvertent misplacement of sensitive data resulting in its irretrievability, as well as cases of data theft perpetrated through cyberattacks or insider threats, which fall under the category of cyber threats.

Confusing these phrases often arises because the latter description overlaps with the definition of a data breach.

The cost of downtime during a data loss disaster is around $4,500 per minute on average.

What is a Data Leak?

A data breach refers to the inadvertent disclosure of confidential data, whether it is in a state of rest or during the process of transmission. This phenomenon has the potential to manifest itself either in the digital realm of the internet or in the physical realm through the utilization of storage devices such as hard drives and laptops.

The classification of data breaches or ransomware attacks as data leaks occurs when sensitive material is unlawfully obtained and subsequently disclosed on the dark web.

What is a Data Breach?

A data breach transpires when confidential data is illicitly accessed or pilfered by those lacking proper authorization, typically perpetrated by cybercriminals.

Regrettably, data breaches are frequent incidents that impose significant economic difficulties. It is projected that the yearly global expenditure on data breaches in 2021 will amount to $6 trillion. The aforementioned quantity has experienced a twofold increase from $3 trillion in the year 2015.

What is Data Loss Prevention (DLP)?

Data loss prevention (DLP) refers to a collection of measures aimed at mitigating the transmission of sensitive data beyond a predetermined boundary limit. This objective can be accomplished by the utilization of data loss prevention software or the implementation of a security framework that regulates the transmission of confidential information between end-users and internal systems.

Data loss prevention (DLP) is not solely considered a security best practice; rather, it encompasses the safeguarding of customers’ Personal Identifiable Information (PHI). This imperative is reinforced by various regulatory standards, including but not limited to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), the Data Protection Act, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the recent cybersecurity executive order issued by President Biden.

Data Loss vs Data Leak: What’s the Difference?

Data breaches typically occur when firms inadvertently expose confidential information due to security weaknesses. These occurrences are generally not instigated by malicious cyber attackers.

In contrast, data breaches typically occur as a consequence of a cybercriminal’s tenacity in infiltrating valuable assets.

The potential consequences of data leaks may escalate to the level of data breaches. The identification of a data leak by individuals engaged in cyber criminal activities has the potential to furnish them with the requisite knowledge and insights to effectively carry out a data breach that achieves its objectives.

This underscores the criticality of promptly addressing data leaks.

Another distinguishing factor between these two occurrences lies in the level of public exposure confidence. When confidential information is illicitly obtained during a breach of data, it is typically disseminated on the dark web, thereby providing compelling proof of its widespread distribution.

In contrast, data leaks have the potential to persist for extended durations without the identification of individuals who may have accessed the information or the determination of whether it has been made publicly available.

The services provided by UpGuard include the provision of skilled analysts who engage in continuous monitoring of the dark web to identify instances of data leaks. This proactive approach helps alleviate concerns regarding the potential disclosure of sensitive material on criminal forums, thereby reducing anxiety among clients.

What Causes Data Leaks?

Data leaking can be classified into two main categories: ignored vulnerabilities and human components due to the numerous occurrences that can potentially lead to such incidents.

1. Overlooked Vulnerabilities

Accidental occurrences are the most prevalent instances of data leaks, often transpiring beyond the purview of conventional information security protocols.

These could be:

• Unpatched exposures
• Weak security policies
• Poorly configured firewalls
• Open-source vulnerabilities
• Poor vendor security postures

2. Human Elements

The vulnerability of cybersecurity architectures is mostly attributed to the inherent weaknesses of human beings. By employing an appropriate methodology, it is possible to deceive any member of an organization’s personnel into unintentionally disclosing confidential credentials to those involved in cybercriminal activities.

Typically, this objective is accomplished through phishing attacks, wherein a seemingly innocuous email or website containing infected links is delivered to a target individual. When individuals engage with these hyperlinks, employees inadvertently disclose confidential internal login credentials, potentially equipping malicious actors with the means to execute a catastrophic data security breach.

If cybercriminals gain access to even a single internal username, the potential for a data breach arises when combined with password-guessing techniques such as brute force approaches.

Data breaches can also occur due to irresponsible actions, such as the utilization of weak passwords and their storage in insecure locations, such as on a Post-it note, a mobile device, or a publicly accessible web document.

How to Prevent Data Leaks Caused by Human Elements?

It is imperative to introduce cyber awareness training within the workplace to mitigate the risk of staff undermining investments in security programs. This training aims to educate employees on identifying prevalent strategies employed by cybercriminals.

Each of the subsequent prevalent attack techniques is associated with a corresponding article that can serve as a valuable resource for raising awareness about cybercrime during training sessions.

• Phishing attacks
• Social Engineering Attacks
• DDoS attacks
• Ransomware attacks
• Malware attacks
• Clickjacking attacks

Detecting intentional data leaks caused by insider threats can be challenging. To achieve a high level of accuracy, behavioral analytics software driven by machine learning must be utilized. These solutions are designed to identify potentially harmful actions by comparing them to a predetermined standard of secure conduct.

A more economically efficient strategy entails restricting the dissemination of sensitive information to individuals who possess an essential necessity for it. The security framework referred to in this context is commonly recognized as Privileged Access Management (PAM).

3. Stolen Data Published on the Dark Web

Data breaches or ransomware attacks are classified as data leaks when sensitive material is unlawfully obtained and subsequently disclosed on the dark web.

Strategies for Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

The optimal strategies for Data Loss Prevention encompass comprehensive coverage of all forms of sensitive data, including data stored on servers and cloud storage, while considering both data at rest and data in transit.

Basic expectations include installing up-to-date antivirus software and properly configuring firewalls. Moreover, creating a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) framework is imperative.

The following enumeration outlines the fundamental characteristics of a proficient Data Loss Prevention (DLP) framework:

• Data Leak Detection: The identification of data leaks may suggest potential deficiencies in measures employed for data loss prevention (DLP). In order to comprehensively evaluate the many aspects of a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) program, a data leak solution must be able to monitor and detect data leaks from third-party vendors effectively.
• Endpoint Security: This holds particular significance given the widespread adoption of telecommuting. Sophisticated endpoint agents possess the capability to identify and regulate the transmission of information among end-users, external entities, and internal networks. One should contemplate the implementation of an Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution.
• Data Encryption: Both in motion and at rest.
• Privileged Access Management (PAM): Access to sensitive resources should only be granted to end-users who have a genuine need for such access.  Efforts to manage privileged access should be implemented with the aim of preventing privilege escalation.

FAQs

About Data Loss vs Data Leak

1: What are the 4 types of DLP?

The four main DLP deployment architectures are:

• Endpoint DLP,
• Network DLP,
• Discovery, and
• Cloud

2: What are the 3 types of data loss prevention?

Three types of data loss prevention are network DLP, endpoint DLP, and cloud DLP.

3: Is DLP data leak prevention or data loss prevention?

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a cybersecurity measure designed to identify and avert instances of unauthorized data access or disclosure, commonly referred to as data breaches.  Organizations employ this technology to enhance internal security measures and ensure compliance with regulatory standards, as it effectively obstructs the extraction of sensitive data.

4: What is an example of DLP?

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) has the capability to provide timely alerts in the event of unauthorized attempts by attackers to gain access to sensitive data, which is an example of DLP.

5: Why is DLP used?

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a cybersecurity measure designed to identify and mitigate data breaches. Because it can impede the extraction of sensitive data, companies employ DLP to enhance internal security measures and ensure adherence to regulatory compliance standards.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we want to say that Data Loss and Data Leak are different. However, people often think they are the same. We have tried our level best to explain Data Loss Vs Data Leak in this article so far.  Suppose a person has developed a keen interest in understanding more about the same. The same can opt for the 1 Year Industry Oriented Cyber Security Course by Craw Security, the Best Cybersecurity Training Institute in Singapore.

To get more info on the same trajectory or to opt for any other course, call us at our hotline mobile number, +65-9797 6564, in the round-the-clock facility.

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