2 pages According to the authors, privacy and security go hand in hand; and hence, privacy cannot be protected without implementing proper security controls and technologies. Today, organizations must make not only reasonable efforts to offer protection of privacy of data, but also must go much further as privacy breaches are damaging to its customers, reputation, and potentially could put the company out of business.  As we continue learning from our various professional areas of practice, its no doubt that breaches have become an increasing concern to many businesses and their future operations. Find an example of a security breach which compromised data records at a company in the same industry as you will be using in your final paper. Summarize the breach, discuss the data that was lost and identify security controls that you would recommend be in place (be certain to remember to cite sources) that could have prevented this breach from occurring. Remember to critical respond appropriately to two other leaners for full points.

Privacy and security are two fundamental concepts that are closely intertwined. The protection of privacy cannot be achieved without the implementation of proper security controls and technologies. In today’s digital age, organizations must go beyond reasonable efforts to protect the privacy of data, as privacy breaches can have severe consequences for both customers and the reputation of the company.

One example of a security breach that compromised data records in the same industry as the one being studied for the final paper is the Equifax data breach in 2017. Equifax is a consumer credit reporting agency, and the breach resulted in the exposure of sensitive personal and financial information of approximately 147 million people.

The breach occurred due to a failure to patch a known vulnerability in an open-source web application framework called Apache Struts. The attackers exploited this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to Equifax’s systems and extract sensitive data.

The data that was lost in the breach included names, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses, and driver’s license numbers. This type of information is highly valuable to identity thieves and can be used for various malicious purposes, such as identity fraud.

To prevent this breach from occurring, a number of security controls should have been in place. First, Equifax should have had a robust and up-to-date vulnerability management program. This program would include regular scanning and assessment of the company’s systems for known vulnerabilities, as well as prompt patching of any identified vulnerabilities.

Additionally, Equifax should have implemented strong access controls to limit the exposure of sensitive data. This could include multi-factor authentication for accessing sensitive systems, as well as strict permissions and role-based access controls to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information.

Furthermore, encryption should have been used to protect the data both at rest and in transit. By encrypting sensitive data, even if it falls into the wrong hands, it would be rendered useless without the encryption keys.

Regular monitoring and intrusion detection systems should have been in place to detect any suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts. Equifax should have also had a comprehensive incident response plan in place, outlining the steps to be taken in the event of a breach and ensuring a swift and coordinated response to mitigate the impact.

In conclusion, the Equifax data breach serves as a stark reminder of the importance of privacy and security in today’s digital landscape. To prevent similar breaches, organizations must prioritize the implementation of robust security controls, including regular vulnerability assessments, strong access controls, encryption, monitoring systems, and an effective incident response plan. By taking these measures, organizations can protect the privacy of their customers’ data and safeguard their own reputation and future operations. (xyzsource, abcsource)