Statistical Insight into Breach Data toward Improved Countermeasures

Abstract

Information is essential to the continued growth of any society. A secure information infrastructure is required. Despite creditable efforts, there are visible failures of Information Security (IS). Breach data, by its nature, offers factual data about what is happening that should reveal what more is required for improved countermeasures. This work, therefore, provides statistical insight into breach data through analysis of the data set of disclosed breaches for the period January 1^st, 2011 to May 18^th 2011 kept by a leading and open repository. The analysis informed that mitigation efforts should include improved perimeter security, document archiving and disposal procedure, and physical security for foreseeable future.

Keywords: Security countermeasure, breach data, storage security, information security, security breach