How to handle a data breach incident

Data breach incidents can happen due to employee information being exposed on the dark web. In this guide we'll cover how employee data can be exposed, how to be aware of such cases when using NordPass, and how to react if that happens.

How employee data can be exposed

• Third-Party Breaches – A service used by employees or the company gets hacked, leaking credentials or sensitive data.
  
  

• Password Reuse – Employees using the same passwords across multiple accounts risk exposure if one is compromised. Learn more about your password health.
  
  

• Weak Security Practices – Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA), weak passwords, or poor access controls make accounts vulnerable.
  
  

• Phishing Attacks – Cybercriminals trick employees into revealing login credentials, which are then sold or misused.
  
  

• Misconfigured Systems – Publicly accessible files, unprotected databases, or insider threats can lead to data leaks.

How to check if your organization’s data is exposed on the dark web using NordPass

As an organization admin, you can monitor all email addresses within your company’s domain. After following the steps, you'll receive a data breach scanner report that shows whether your data is at risk:

1. Navigate to Admin Panel for Business:
   
   
   
   
2. Select dashboard:
   
   
   
   
3. Here, you’ll see the data breach scanner indicating if any breaches have been detected. Click on view report to see the breach details:
   
   
   
   
4. Select a specific breach:
   
   
5. View detailed information and see which individuals were affected:
   
   

What to do when employee data is exposed

When your organization discovers that employee information has been exposed, it’s critical to respond in a structured, methodical manner.

Keep in mind that this is a starting point, not a complete guide. Adapt it to your company's needs and seek expert advice as necessary.

Here are the recommended steps to resolve a data breach incident:

1. Verify the breach with the affected third-party provider:
   • gather official information to confirm what happened,
   • assess what information has been compromised,
   • document key details, such as: breach date, data impacted, employees affected, other risks.
     
     
2. Protect employee accounts:
   
   • disable affected accounts to prevent further damage,
   • enforce password resets, strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) usage,
   • check if passwords are not being re-used for other accounts,
   • check Single Sign-On (SSO) integrations for unauthorized access.
     
     
3. Work with internal or external security teams to analyze the incident: 
   • scan for suspicious activity, and confirm that the incident has been contained,
   • assess whether third-party provider still poses risks,
   • review with employees whether no new unusual activity has been noticed.
     
     
4. Inform leadership, legal, and HR.
   
   
5. Provide affected employees with security instructions.
   
   
6. Coordinate with the third-party provider and notify authorities if required. Ensure public statements are fact-based and avoid speculation.
   
   
7. Maintain detailed records of actions taken:
   • conduct a post-incident review,
   • re-evaluate using the third party provider,
   • review software procurement and whether there is no more use of shadow IT,
   • update security policies,
   • conduct security training,
   • strengthen vendor agreements to prevent future breaches.
     
     

How to minimize future risks

Take proactive steps to prevent future breaches. Here's what you can do:

1. Consider implementing threat exposure management platforms like NordStellar to gain deeper insights into your organization’s security gaps.
   
   
2. Improve password management with tools like NordPass. Here are the steps you can take:
   
   • Enforce strong password policies.
   • Regularly monitor exposed passwords.
   • Consider disabling Guest Sharing.
   • Enforce User Provisioning.
   • Monitor other domains for breaches.
   • Promote email masks.
     
     
3. Conduct regular security awareness training to educate employees on best practices.
   
   
4. Review and update third-party security requirements, and ensure your internal security policies are robust and up-to-date.
   
   

We wish you a safe journey with NordPass and hope that you will not be affected by data breach incidents in the future.