Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

When Your Data Goes Viral: Insurance for Data Breaches

By Sherilyn Pastor and Kelly Lloyd
December 31, 2014

Data breaches are part of the technological age. Indeed, 2013 was dubbed the year of the “mega breach,” and in 2014, as of October, there had been 621 publicly reported data breaches, exposing 77,890,487 records. See, Identity Theft Resource Center, 2014 Data Breach Category Summary (Oct. 21, 2014). In early October 2014, JPMorgan Chase reported a data breach affecting as many as 76 million households and 7 million small businesses, making it one of the largest data breaches ever reported.

A data breach typically involves the unauthorized release or access of personal or confidential information. Personal information includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, financial information, or health information. In addition to personal information, a data breach can also jeopardize a company's confidential information such as client records, trade secrets, privileged legal information, or employee records. Although many associate data breaches with hackers or cyberattacks, human error, such as a mistake in computer coding or losing a company laptop, also have resulted in significant breaches. A 2014 study concluded that 44% of data breaches were from malicious or criminal attacks against an organization, but 31% resulted from employee negligence and 25% resulted from system glitches.

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

Bit Parts Image

Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.