In nearly every part of the world, people associate the word ‘government’ with order. Government services bring societal order, economic stability and security at all levels. However, the past decade of data breaches has challenged this. Federal and local governments battle worldwide breaches and cyber attacks. Data security flaws have been so pervasive in public sectors that costs that come with a data breach have risen nearly 79% year over year.
How Does a Government Data Breach Happen?
Several years ago, the idea of governments falling victim to cyber attacks was hard to imagine. The public and governments had high standards for maintaining security governance and strict data compliance. However, the public sector includes multiple government services. (Look at the military, law enforcement, infrastructure management, public transit and educational facilities.) So, there is no shortage of digital footprints that threat actors can try to exploit.
In local and federal governments, a data breach involves any incident where attackers access or distribute confidential or protected information. Data breaches can occur through both physical and digital means. Attackers often combine them with various forms of cyber attack. (Think phishing schemes, ransomware attacks, viruses, malware and other malicious software.) Data breaches can expose confidential records, social security numbers, financial information and other sensitive details. Meanwhile, strict privacy laws often protect these in public sectors.
Well-Known Government Data Breaches
Sadly, cyber attacks and data breaches impacting the public sector have become more and more common over the years. Now, governments invest a lot in their cybersecurity programs in response to the growing surge of attack variants targeting them.
In 2015, attackers compromised the personal credentials of exploring costs risks causes government breach
