There are hundreds of security breaches that happen every day but in the end, they fall into three main groups: malicious, intentional, or criminal; system glitches; and human error.

The IBM “2015 Cost of Security Breach Survey” conducted by Ponemon Research, catalogs 49 percent of the breaches as malicious activity, 23 percent as system glitches. and the remaining 28 percent as human error.

Malicious, intentional, or criminal

Just like the old-fashioned theft of physical goods, these attacks are usually well planned, targeted, and for the most part have a negative impact on the business being targeted.

Common security breaches include phishing, scams, hacking, fraud, cybercrime, theft of intellectual property, and diversion of funds. Introducing viruses and system infections is common, too. As businesses work hard to prevent data theft by implementing more sophisticated systems, the perpetrators are working just as hard to always stay one step ahead.

E-commerce trading operations regularly undergo penetration testing and STAR (simulated targeted attack response) testing to make sure their sites are secure and can continue to trade safely.

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