A data leak happens when sensitive information is exposed by a breach or misconfiguration. It can threaten data at rest in a database or in motion between data storage locations. The type of information that can be leaked varies and includes personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, and even business plans. Leaks can occur on a massive scale with devastating consequences.

While a great security posture involves limiting access, humans are not perfect and will make mistakes. These errors can result from using insecure communication channels, falling victim to phishing attacks, or poor password management. As a result, it’s common for PII, financial data, and proprietary code to fall into the hands of attackers and be exploited.

Leaks can also happen through more innocuous means, such as when an employee unintentionally prints a document containing sensitive information in a public printer or loses a USB drive with important files. Cybercriminals can quickly use these breaches to cause financial harm and ruin reputations.

Fortunately, there are several preventive strategies to protect against data leaks. Implementing clear policies and training employees on how to handle confidential information helps reduce risks. Monitoring network traffic and system logs for anomalies reveals potential threats and allows you to respond quickly.

Data breaches can cost companies a fortune, not only in disruptions to business operations and steep fines from regulators, but also in the loss of customer trust and revenue. Indirect losses can be even greater, such as damage to a company’s reputation and negative PR. A top defense against these risks is artificial intelligence, which can offer speed and scale that human teams cannot match. AI analyzes file content, user behavior, and network activity to detect suspicious patterns that may indicate a data leak and trigger the right security policies to restrict access, encrypt files, or block unauthorized transfers.