What defines a data breach?

A data breach is primarily defined as a situation where unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive information. This encompasses any incident in which personal, confidential, or proprietary data is accessed, viewed, stolen, or used by individuals who do not have permission to access that data.

Understanding this definition is critical because it highlights the potential risks associated with breaches, including financial loss, identity theft, and damage to an organization’s reputation. It emphasizes the importance of security measures to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.

The other choices refer to concepts related to data security but do not fit the definition of a data breach. For instance, a security protocol is designed to prevent unauthorized access rather than define an incident of unauthorized access itself. Similarly, processes for securely transmitting data and types of encryption focus on methods of safeguarding data rather than events where that data becomes compromised.