data leakage

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

Website Tips and Tricks

Whether you are hosting a site for your blog content or responsible for maintaining multiple website for clients, dealing with data leakage or data loss can be a hassle. It could also cost you a lot of time and money.

Add to this list, you may be unable to recover your data.

One important fact to know about websites before building one is knowing that you could experience a data breach.

How will you detect the problem before it becomes widespread? How can you stop the loss of data from becoming widespread?  What will be your course of action?

Before you can answer these questions you first need to know what data leakage and data loss mean.

Data Leakage vs. Data Loss

Data leakage, also known as information leakage takes place when there is an unauthorized transmission of data from an organization. This data is then transmitted to someone outside of the company.

Data leakage is not always intentional. A data leak can begin when an employee takes a report home and accidentally leaves it on the train or bus. The leak occurs when someone comes along and takes the file.

An intentional leak is when data is purposely transmitted to someone outside the company who does not have a legal right to possess the information.

Leaks of information can be physical transfers or an electronic transmittal. A leak can also be as simplistic as someone memorizing data and using it outside the scope of their authority.

Data Loss differs from data leakage.

So What Is Data Loss?

Simply put, data loss is any loss of data whether intentional or accidental. If you no longer have access to your data it has been lost.

Data loss can occur on any device that stores data. Almost half of all data loss occurs as the result of hardware failure.

These type failures can be a result of memory loss, power outages and even Mother Nature. Failure to secure data on offsite servers can prove to be disastrous if there is a power outage, flooding, fire or other unforeseen disaster.

Other losses occur when data is purposely are accidentally deleted. There are also the pesky malware viruses and worst of all computer hackers.

Like with data leakage, losses also can occur with employees taking work home. In this case, data is lost when an employee loses control of a laptop and there is no backup version of the data it contained.

Is There a Way to Prevent Data Leakage or Loss?

There are no 100 percent fail-proof ways to prevent leakages or losses. Let’s face it, sometimes things are totally out of our control.

What you can do is implement measures to significantly reduce the opportunity for these mishaps to take place. Whether you are a one-man show or have employees you should have a plan of action.

The most important thing you can do to protect your data and keep a secure network is train your employees on how to protect your data.

Steps can be as simple as prohibiting employees from having beverages and food at their desk. You can also require employees increase password strength and to lock or log-out their computers whenever they leave their desks.

Backing up data is a must and should be done nightly. As mentioned above, having a secure offsite server can go a long way in recovering lost or damaged data.

Do you have a secure website?

Just as visitors to your site want to know if it is secure, so do cyber thieves. The reasons may be different but the answer should always be yes.

If your web URL does not begin with https it is not secure. This is likened to leaving your key in the door. It is an invitation to allow your data to walk out the door.

If you are operating an unsecured website you need to get SSL Certification.

Other Security Measures That Can Limit Data Loss

Stay alert and always know what is taking place on your network. This will ensure that things stay safe and secure.

As a website owner, you should know what it going on at all times. If there is a security breach, you should know. Was there an outage, is the system running slow, have there been failed logins?

It may seem inconsequential and over-reaching, but it is best to be safe than sorry. Cyber-security is an important part of conducting a business online.

Your first line of defense to prevent data leakage and date loss is to secure your data at all times.

Don’t be an easy target. Require everyone who has access to your website’s database user authentication. It’s a process that takes seconds, but trying to recover data can take days, months, years, or may be lost forever.

Are You on the Cloud?

The cloud has changed how we store data in today’s world. It has also created a new window of opportunity for theft.

Having 24-Hour access to your online database is a great thing. It unhinges you from your office and gives employees more flexibility.  It can also eliminate the need for costly office space.

With these pros, there are a few cons. Whenever and wherever thieves see an opening they will try to take advantage of it.

The same security measures you would take in your physical office, you should take in the cloud. Secure your data and cut off opportunities for data leakage and data loss.

How Can SiteUptime Help?

SiteUptime offers website monitoring and reporting services. We are here to help you implement the tools needed to ensure your website is safe and secure.

Data leakage and data loss can leave a stain on your business reputation. Don’t fall prey to thinking it will never happen to you.

Reach out to us today and set-up a demo account to test our services. If you like the experience, we would love to be your security shield against cyber-mishaps, small and large.