The Growing Threat to Privacy: Major Data Leaks and How to Protect Sensitive Information
PowerSchool Data Breach: Millions of Student RecordsExposed
In one of the largest education-related breaches, PowerSchool, a widely used student information system, suffered a massive data breach, compromising millions of sensitive student records. The leaked data included:
This breach not only put students at risk of identity theft and fraud, but also raised concerns about the security of education technology (EdTech) systems, which store vast amounts of sensitive data. The attack exposed vulnerabilities in third-party integrations, outdated security controls, and insufficient monitoring, highlighting the need for stronger privacy safeguards in the education sector.
One major concern in this incident was the retention of outdated student records. Reports indicate that PowerSchool's database contained student data dating back to the 1990s, raising questions about why such old data was still stored and accessible. If the information was no longer useful, it should have been securely deleted to minimize exposure risk. This highlights the importance of proper data retention policies to reduce unnecessary risk in case of a breach.
MoveIt Transfer Breach: Widespread Exposure of Personal Data
Another recent and devastating privacy breach involved MoveIt Transfer, a file transfer software used by businesses, government agencies, and healthcare organizations.
In this incident, cybercriminals exploited azero-day vulnerability, gaining access to millions of sensitive records across multiple industries. The compromised data included:
The MoveIt breach impacted hundreds of organizations, including banks, insurance companies, and government entities, showing how supply chain vulnerabilities can lead to widespread data leaks. This attack emphasized the importance of regular security assessments, vulnerability management, and encryption of sensitive data.
Why Privacy Programs and Security Assessments Are Essential
With data breaches increasing in scale and complexity, organizations must prioritize privacy and security. A well-structured privacy program ensures that businesses handle sensitive information responsibly and comply with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.
What is a Privacy Program and Why is it Important?
A privacy program is a structured approach to managing sensitive data throughout its lifecycle. It includes policies, procedures, and technical controls that help organizations collect, store, process, and dispose of personal information securely.
An effective privacy program should follow key principles:
By implementing a robust privacy program, businesses can reduce the impact of data breaches, enhance customer trust, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Privacy Assessments vs. Security Assessments
Many organizations confuse privacy assessments with securityassessments, but they serve different purposes.
🔹 Privacy Assessments focus on how personal data is collected, stored, and shared.
They evaluate compliance with data protection regulations and help organizations understandand mitigate privacy risks. Privacy assessments involve:
🔹 Security Assessments focus on technical vulnerabilities and risk mitigation.
These assessments evaluate network security, application security, and endpoint protection to prevent cyber threats. Key components include:
While security assessments protect data from external threats, privacy assessments ensure that organizations handle data responsibly and comply with privacy regulations. A comprehensive privacy and security strategy should include both types of assessments to provide full protection for sensitive information.
How CyberWall Can Help Protect Your Sensitive Information
CyberWall provides comprehensive privacy assessments and security solutions to help organizations secure sensitive data, ensureregulatory compliance, and prevent breaches.
Our services include:
🔹 Protect your business and customer data with Cyberwall. Contact us today for a privacy assessment and security consultation
