Many Organizations Admit To Covering Up Data Breaches

Almost a third (30%) of all IT and security professionals whose firms suffered a data breach did not publicly disclose the event, but rather decided to sweep it under the rug.

This is according to a new report from Bitdefender based on a survey of more than 400 relevant experts working in companies with 1,000+ employees, which added that an even higher percentage (42%) were told by the higher echelons to keep the incidents to themselves.

Reporting a data breach is not just morally right -- it’s also a legal obligation in most parts of the world.

Data watchdogs and law enforcement agencies demand businesses disclose these things in order to minimize the potential damage to their customers who might be targeted with phishing or have their identities abused (opens in new tab) for nefarious purposes.

But disclosing a data breach also means fines, loss of business, a tarnished reputation, and many other unwanted consequences.