What does the term "data breach" refer to?

The term "data breach" specifically refers to an incident where unauthorized access to data occurs. This can happen when sensitive, protected, or confidential information is accessed or disclosed without proper authorization, which may involve hackers exploiting security vulnerabilities or employees accessing data they are not permitted to view.

Understanding this definition is crucial, as data breaches can have significant implications for individuals and organizations, often leading to identity theft, financial loss, and damage to reputation. This delineation also emphasizes the difference between unauthorized access and other events such as hardware failure or malware infections, which involve different contexts and consequences.

Consequently, the focus on unauthorized access within the definition of a data breach is what distinguishes it from the other options provided, highlighting its core aspect of unauthorized interaction with sensitive data.