human error and data loss.
human error.
There are three types of human error:
- Slips and lapses, which are made inadvertently by experienced operators during routine tasks.
- Mistakes, which are decisions subsequently found to be wrong, even though the maker believed them to be correct at the time.
- Violations, which are deliberate deviations from the rules for the safe operation of equipment.
In information security, human error refers to any action by an individual that inadvertently leads to sensitive data being compromised. For example, users may open malicious email attachments, use weak passwords, or install unauthorized software that is infected with malware.
data loss.
Data loss refers to the intentional or unintentional destruction of information, caused by people and/or processes from within or outside of an organization. Data loss is similar to a data breach in that the data is compromised. However, in a data breach, the data is typically still intact, but in the hands of unauthorized individuals.
the most common cause of data loss.
Human error is widely considered to be the primary cause of most data loss incidents.
According to Verizon's 2022 Data Breaches Investigations Report, 82% of data breaches involved a human element. This includes incidents in which employees directly expose information or make a mistake that enables cybercriminals to access the organization's systems.
Other researchers have found that human error accounts for 75% of data loss incidents, followed by hardware failure, software corruption, malware and theft.
The most common causes of data loss involving human error are:
- accidental deletion
- overwritten files
- social engineering attacks
- mishandled migration,
- bad integration
- other IT errors
Data is also commonly lost in cases where devices are accidentally destroyed, such as a laptop or phone being dropped.
accidental file deletion
One of the most common data loss scenarios is when a user accidentally deletes an important file or folder. This can happen for several different reasons. For instance, people might move an important file to the trash without realizing it, or they might intentionally delete it first and then later realize they still need it.
Accidental deletion is also common when users move files and folders to a different location on the server. Sometimes people recognize their mistake immediately, making it slightly easier to recover the lost data. However, other times it may take days or even weeks before they notice that the files are missing. To make matters worse, they may not remember the name of the file or the deletion date, making it even harder to locate it in a backup (assuming there is a backup available).
The same goes for accidentally deleted emails, app data and all other critical and sensitive data.
overwritten files
Overwriting text means that newly typed characters replace existing characters.
It's also possible to overwrite data by replacing old files with new ones. For example, when saving a document with the same filename as an already existing document, the old document will be overwritten by the new one.
social engineering attacks
Social engineering is the practice of deceiving users to gain access to security systems or to deliver malware, which paves the way for future cyberattacks.
Social engineering usually starts with an email that is designed to mislead users into thinking it's genuine, when in reality, it carries malicious attachments or links to nefarious websites.
Spam emails can be considered a form of social engineering that relies on deception. For instance, users might receive a message that appears to be a receipt, invoice, or billing statement. However, by unwittingly clicking on these links or opening the file attachments, their computers can become infected with malware.
More sophisticated social engineering attacks often involve multiple layers of deception. For example, an email might impersonate a notification to reset a password or view a file shared by a friend or family member on Google Drive. The message may even include the victim's name. When the link is clicked, it takes the user to a secondary page that also appears legitimate. However, in reality, the page is simply the next phase of the deception. Users unwittingly enter their credentials, which are then sent directly to the attackers.
The vast majority of cyberattacks utilize social engineering tactics. When these attacks are used to deploy ransomware or other forms of malware, they can result in permanent data loss.
Ransomware has emerged as a major data security threat, with attacks occurring every few seconds on average. These attacks can permanently lock users out of their data unless they pay the ransom or restore a backup. However, it is important to note that while ransomware can cause significant damage to operations, it is not the leading cause of data loss. In fact, human error is much more common in causing data loss for businesses on a day-to-day basis.
Ironically, human error is also the leading cause of ransomware infections. Ransomware attacks are most commonly delivered through spam and phishing emails. When employees are not trained to recognize and avoid these threats, they may inadvertently click on links or open attachments that introduce the infection.
mishandled migrations
Anytime large amounts of data are being moved, there is a risk of files being lost or accidentally deleted. Most commonly, they are overwritten. In worst-case scenarios, entire folders and directories are replaced, and newer versions of files are inadvertently overwritten by old data, resulting in good data being replaced by bad.
In most cases, this happens due to a simple mistake caused by the person handling the migration. Although their intentions may be good, such as reorganizing or consolidating data storage, or migrating data to new software, a lack of caution can lead to a botched migration that destroys large amounts of data. While there may be instances where the user is not entirely at fault, human error is still ultimately to blame in most cases.
bad integrations
Integrating third-party software should be done with care, especially when it involves data migration. If the integration is misconfigured or there are compatibility issues, it can lead to a high risk of data loss.
In most cases, misconfigured or incompatible integrations can be considered a form of human error. It is the user's responsibility to ensure the viability of the integration before proceeding. For instance, when adding new software, users need to ensure it is developed by reputable sources and compatible with current systems.
However, sometimes the culprit is not human error. There are cases, for example, where software bugs in otherwise well-developed software can cause a botched integration, resulting in data loss. Nevertheless, proper testing should be conducted to minimize this risk.
other IT errors
It's not only non-technical employees who can make mistakes; even IT professionals are not immune, and the consequences of their mistakes can be even more severe. Human error has been reported to cause up to 70% of data incidents at data centers, leading to a higher level of data loss beyond simple accidental file deletion. These incidents can be caused by a range of issues, including network misconfigurations, security vulnerabilities, and errors during IT system management. This underscores the importance of regularly backing up your data to prevent permanent data loss.
how to prevent data loss from human error.
While it is true that mistakes can occur and human errors can lead to data loss, it is important to note that this type of loss is not necessarily inevitable. By implementing a range of preventative measures, you can significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of data loss from human error.
In addition to backups, you can reduce the risk of human error by providing routine employee training on data handling best practices and cybersecurity, as well as implementing improved access management practices for better control over who can access and modify files.
employee training
A little bit of employee training can go a long way in preventing data loss from human error. When onboarding new employees, make sure to provide comprehensive training on how to properly save, move, modify, and delete files on the company network, and don't assume that everyone knows how to do this. It's also critical to educate employees on the risks of data loss and the importance of notifying administrators as quickly as possible after accidental file deletion.
However, it's important to note that training should not be a one-time event. To maintain the effectiveness of your training program, you should regularly reinforce best practices and provide ongoing training on the latest security risks and threats. This can include reminders, refresher courses, and other forms of training to help keep your employees up-to-date and vigilant.
cybersecurity training
Cybersecurity training is an essential component of any comprehensive data loss prevention strategy. All employees should receive education on safe web and email practices. To reduce the risk of data loss from ransomware or other forms of malware it is critical to train employees on the latest security risks and threats, such as phishing scams, malware, and social engineering attacks. By familiarizing staff with the telltale signs of these types of attacks, such as suspicious links or attachments, unsolicited messages from unknown senders, or requests for personal information, you can empower them to make smarter, safer choices when using company networks and devices.
stricter access controls
Implementing stricter access controls is an effective way to reduce the risk of data loss from human error. By limiting user access to only the authorized folders they need, based on the approach of 'least privilege', you can prevent them from making mistakes in folders where they shouldn't have access in the first place.
While this approach won't prevent accidental deletion within the user's authorized folders, it can help to prevent the spread of ransomware in the event of an attack. By limiting the areas of the network that a compromised user account can access, you can contain the infection and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the network.
recovering lost data.
When data loss inevitably occurs, having a plan in place for quick and effective recovery is essential. Whether it is a single file that has gone missing or a ransomware attack that has locked up all of your data, you need a way to recover your data quickly and efficiently.
back up your data
Data backup is a critical part of protecting against permanent data loss. Backing up your data regularly will ensure that you have a recent copy of all your files and that any loss of data, from file deletion to ransomware encryption, can be recovered. Backups of your data should be stored in a secure location. You can choose to store backups on an external hard drive, a cloud-based service, or both for added redundancy.
Once you have a backup solution in place, the next step is to develop a plan for recovering your data in the event of a loss. This plan should include clear steps for restoring data from your backups, as well as any other necessary measures such as rebuilding your system or network after a cyber attack.
have multiple restore options
When dealing with data loss, it is important to have flexibility in your recovery options. If someone accidentally deletes a single file or a few folders, you don't want to have to restore your entire system from a large backup. On the other hand, if a large-scale data loss occurs, you need to be able to restore everything quickly and efficiently.
To achieve this flexibility, it's important to have a backup and disaster recovery (BDR) solution that allows for multiple restore options. This means that you should be able to restore individual files and folders as needed, without having to restore your entire system. At the same time, you should be able to select the appropriate recovery point to restore everything if necessary. This can save you time and effort.
recover missing files faster
The software built into your BDR system is crucial. This is what will allow you to locate and restore deleted data in the shortest amount of time possible. BDR software solutions, for example, can make it easy for IT administrators to locate deleted files, even when the file names and deletion dates are unknown. With a few clicks, the interface shows you which files have been modified, deleted or created between any two backups, so that recovery can only take seconds.
go hybrid
For greater assurance that your data is always recoverable, deploy a BDR system with hybrid technology, which stores your backups on-site and in the cloud. For example, if your servers are flooded, you’ll still be able to recover any destroyed data from the cloud.
make backups more frequent
If your last backup was 24 hours ago, then all data created or modified since then is vulnerable to being destroyed forever. If something is deleted, it’s gone for good. Make sure your backups can be performed as frequently as needed to prevent a costly data loss or disruption. The frequency of backups should be determined by the business needs and the potential impact of data loss.
business continuity plan.
No matter what you do to prevent data loss from human error, make sure your strategies and systems are clearly defined in a business continuity plan (BCP). This comprehensive document will serve as the basis for your continuity planning, identifying your unique risks and outlining the protocols for backup and recovery. Unfortunately, even the most comprehensive BCP won’t prevent all instances of accidental data loss. However, it can significantly reduce your risk of permanent data loss.
Kotar Data Recovery has the expertise to solve the most complex data loss challenges. If you have experienced data loss due to hardware failures, human error, natural disasters, or cyber-attacks, their team of experts is ready to help you retrieve lost photos, documents, and other important files.
