What is a data breach?

A data breach is defined as an incident where unauthorized individuals gain access to confidential, sensitive, or protected data. This can occur through various means such as hacking, exploiting vulnerabilities, or physical theft. The core aspect of a data breach is that it compromises the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of the data, which can lead to serious consequences for individuals and organizations, including identity theft, financial loss, and damage to reputation.

Understanding a data breach in this context highlights the importance of safeguarding data through various measures like encryption, access controls, and user education, to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access. This choice aligns with the fundamental definition of a data breach, making it the most accurate and relevant response among the options presented.