Within the business industry, the risks of data breach can account for huge losses of sensitive or vital information both to the organizations and consumers. These drawbacks often result to tremendous repercussions when not properly handled. It's therefore important both for consumers and organizations to uphold privacy protection and prevent data leakages resulting from security breaches.

Organizations must do the following:

• Take reasonable actions to protect the huge amount of personal information they have against loss, misuse, disclosure, modification and unauthorized access.
  
  
• Preparation and implementation of a data breach policy prevention and response plan.
  
  
• Notification of consumers who may have been affected by the breach is crucial to the mitigation strategy.
  
  
• The necessity to secure personal information at all costs, because of the harm that can be brought about both to the organization and consumers.
  
  
• Fortification of the way the information is stored, transmitted and disposed.
  
  
• Creation of appropriate security safeguards, such as computer security, network security, communications security, and most importantly, personal security.
  
  
• Restriction of employee's access to sensitive company information.
  
  
• Securing the vital data of employees and clients.
  
  
• Updating software and systems regularly.
  
  
• Proper disposal of old company documents and other intellectual properties.
  
  Other points to consider:
  
  
• Staff training - Key stakeholders and employees should be taught about fraud and security awareness, procedures, practices and other codes of conduct.
  
  
• Appointment of personnel responsible for the position – Creating a designated position that specializes in handling data breaches threats. The responsible personnel assigned should be well versed when it comes to policy and procedures establishment, coordination of audits and reviews, as well as investigation and assessment of data breaches.
  
  
• Regular evaluation of risks – Maintenance of a secured environment through constant computer check-ups provides extra layer of protection against data leakages.
  
  
• Improvement of end-user experience – complicated security measures can limit user experience, weakening endpoint access or application clashes. It's important to make system-level changes that allow less complicated end-user experience in order to increase work outputs, allow user feedbacks and increase privacy knowledge.
  
  Consumers' role in data breach prevention:
  
  As soon as the company notifies you that a security breach has occurred, you should respond to it immediately before your sensitive information falls into the wrong hands.
  
  
• Figure out the type of breach – Data breach can target either your existing financial or credit card account. They can also open new credits using your SS number and other IDs.
  
  
• Notify the credit reporting companies – Call the fraud department of the three credit reporting companies so that they can flag your credit file with a message stating that you're a victim of fraud. This will help minimize the damages, because creditors will need to verify your identity first before they extend a credit to someone using your account.
  
  
• Monitor your accounts closely – Aside from credit card fraud prevention, close monitoring of accounts can help spot irregularities associated with data breach. Things like regular online account check-ups or monthly statements review can help decrease your losses resulting from theft and fraudulent transactions.
  
  
• Credit reports examination – a good way to block the damages caused by data breach is to carefully examine what's contained in your credit report. This can increase your credit protection, because as soon as you find that someone is using your name for their financial gain, you can immediately report the issue to the credit reporting companies. Some data breach criminals changes your address or employment information, so whenever these errors arise, contact the credit reporting companies right away.