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Data Loss
Last Updated: July 26, 2016
Definition - What does Data Loss mean?
Data loss is any process or event that results in data being corrupted, deleted and/or made unreadable by a user and/or software or application.
It occurs when one or more data elements can no longer be utilized by the data owner or requesting application.
Data loss is also known as data leakage.
Techopedia explains Data Loss
Data loss is applicable on data both at rest and when in motion (transmitted over the network). Data loss can occur for various reasons, including:
- Data corruption
- Data being intentionally or accidentally deleted or overwritten by a user or an attacker
- Data stolen over the network by network penetration or any network intervention attack
- Data storage device physically damaged or stolen
- Virus infection deleting one or more files
Data loss is usually prevented by implementing data backup solutions and adding strong data access controls and security mechanisms on data storage assets.
