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4 Severity Levels of Breaches – Low to Critical

May 19th, 2023 | Cybersecurity

Companies are facing an ever-increasing number of security threats. Despite their best efforts to protect their sensitive data, it is not uncommon for businesses to experience a breach. A security breach can occur in different ways, from malware attacks to phishing scams, and can lead to significant financial and reputational damages for the company. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to understand the different severity levels of a security breach and how to respond accordingly. 

Data Breaches – 4 Severity Levels 

Low Severity 

Low-severity security breaches typically involve minor incidents, such as lost or stolen devices, that do not result in significant harm to the company or its customers. Examples of a low level security breach include: 

  • A lost or stolen laptop or mobile device that contains unencrypted confidential information
  • A phishing attack that results in a small number of employees providing their login credentials
  • An unauthorized user gaining access to a company’s public-facing website

Moderate Severity 

Moderate-severity security breaches typically involve incidents that result in a limited release of sensitive information, such as names, addresses, and emails. These incidents may cause some harm to the company and its customers, but the impact is typically limited. Examples of a moderate level security breach include: 

  • A data breach that results in the exposure of customer information, such as names, addresses, and email addresses 
  • An insider attack that results in the theft of sensitive information, such as trade secrets or financial data 
  • A ransomware attack that results in the encryption of some of a company’s files and systems, but not all of them 

High Severity 

High-severity security breaches are serious incidents that result in significant harm to the company and its customers. Examples of high-severity incidents include data theft, unauthorized access to sensitive systems, and widespread identity theft. Examples of a high level security breach include: 

  • A data breach that results in the exposure of sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or medical records 
  • An unauthorized user gaining access to a company’s internal systems or network, resulting in the theft of sensitive information 
  • A widespread phishing attack that results in many employees providing their login credentials, leading to a compromise of multiple systems and data 

Critical Severity 

Critical-severity security breaches are the most severe type of security incident, and typically result in significant harm to the company, its customers, and its reputation. Examples of critical incidents include the release of highly sensitive information, such as financial data or personal health information, and widespread identity theft. Examples of a critical level security breach include: 

  • A data breach that results in the exposure of highly sensitive information, such as financial data or personal health information, on a large scale 
  • An attack that results in the complete shutdown of a company’s systems and network, causing widespread disruption to operations 
  • A supply chain attack that results in the compromise of a company’s systems and data through a third-party vendor or service provider. 

The severity of a security breach will determine the response required by the company, as well as the resources and steps needed to mitigate the damage and prevent future incidents. It’s important for companies to have a well-defined security plan in place to respond to different levels of security incidents, in order to minimize the impact of a security breach on their operations, finances, and reputation. 

Start Controlling Your Risk 

You are up against the entire cybercrime industry, and they are continuously developing new methods to steal from your business or your contacts. There is no such thing as being 100% protected from cyberthreats. However, you can drastically mitigate your potential damages by developing a security plan that controls your risks. Take a look at our IT Security page to see how Aldridge can help.