Glossary · Security

Data breach

In plain language

When information that should be private gets seen, taken or exposed by someone who should not have it.

The metaphor

Like finding the filing cabinet drawer open and files missing: you need to know what was inside, who is affected and who to tell.

Going deeper

How it works

Causes include hacked accounts, lost devices, mistakes and malware.
The first job is to contain it, then find what was taken.
You may have to tell the people affected, and sometimes regulators.
Check the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (priv.gc.ca) for the current rules.

How WILDCARD handles it

Cyber contains the threat as part of incident response. A breach response procedure and a breach log are vCIO outputs.

In practice

A lost laptop holds client files.
A hacked mailbox exposes invoices.
A staff member emails a spreadsheet to the wrong client.

A question owners ask

Do I have to tell my clients if there is a breach? It depends on what was exposed and the risk of harm. Check current rules with the Privacy Commissioner or your lawyer, and keep a written record either way.

Where WILDCARD handles this

Cyber

Coming soon

✨

vCIO

Fractional CIO on retainer
Moonlight, Sunlight, Starlight tiers
Credits for single outputs

Start with vCIO

Related terms

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