After its massive data breach, Equifax estimated that its related costs would total $439 million by the end of 2018—but the real costs could be upwards of $600 million after dealing with government investigations and civil lawsuits. While this could be the most expensive data breach in history, the sheer volume of records drove up the costs exponentially.
Data breaches are costlier than most people think—and the cost keeps on growing. The 2018 study Ponemon Institute Cost of a Data Breach Study found that the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million, an increase of 6.4% over 2017. According to the overall findings from the study, data breaches continue to be costlier and result in more records being stolen year after year. And no matter the size of a company, records are at risk.
Data breaches are the most expensive in the US and Canada, averaging $233 and $202 per capita, respectively, according to the Ponemon Institute. While cost fluctuates across industries and countries, the number clearly shows a dire truth: data breaches cut significantly into a company’s profits, often deeply.
But the real cost of data breaches goes much deeper than just the data lost; factors at play include missed opportunities, lost customers, and costs associated with remediating the data breach. In addition, certain factors like third-party involvement can increase the cost of data breaches. Let’s explore some of the additional costs.
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