Threats and Major Data Breaches: Securing Third-Party Vendors

Abstract

The emerging trend of increasing numbers of third-party data breaches and publicly exposed data has deep impact on consumer trust. These breaches affect multiple industries and government agencies including online retailer Target Corporation, Marriott Corporation hotel chain, and the United States Office of Personnel Management which have all been breached by cybercriminals due to inadequate security or the lack of secure connections with their third-party vendors. This paper provides an overview of three major third-party breaches resulting in millions of exposed records and the impact of those breaches, followed by recommendations to reduce the risk of third-party data breaches.

Keywords: third-party vendors, data breach, cybersecurity, cyber threats, cybercriminals, reducing cyber risk