What constitutes a 'data breach'?

A data breach is fundamentally defined as an incident where unauthorized access to confidential data occurs. This definition captures the essence of a data breach, which involves a security incident resulting in the exposure, theft, or unauthorized access to sensitive information. These breaches can stem from various causes, such as hacking, insider threats, or accidental disclosure, and they often lead to significant implications for individuals and organizations, including legal ramifications, financial losses, and damage to reputation.

Understanding this definition is crucial in cybersecurity ethics and privacy practices, as it highlights the need for robust security measures and protocols to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access. Each of the other choices reflects either a preventive measure, a monitoring activity, or routine maintenance, which are essential components of a comprehensive security strategy but do not, in themselves, define what constitutes a data breach.