How Proactive Data Monitoring Saves Millions for Companies

How Proactive Data Monitoring Saves Millions for Companies

In August 2024, National Public Data (NPD), a background check company, experienced a massive data breach that impacted around 2.9 billion records with sensitive information.

Millions of people’s full names, Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and addresses were all up for grabs on the dark web. Faced with the overwhelming financial strain from numerous lawsuits and the costs associated with the breach, NPD filed for bankruptcy just a few months later.

The Growing Risks Businesses Face in Protecting Sensitive Data

With cybercriminals constantly evolving their tactics, companies can no longer afford to rely on reactive security measures alone. The bittersweet truth is that a breach like that could have been avoided — or at least minimized — with the right security measures in place.

Threat exposure management platforms like NordStellar help with data breach prevention by catching vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

NordStellar: Proactive Threat Exposure Management for Businesses

According to research conducted by NordStellar, 716 million user contacts were leaked on the dark web in 2024. This included 554 million email addresses and 162 million phone numbers, leaving a vast number of people vulnerable to cyber threats.

Most of the leaked data came from companies in the technology, media, financial services, commerce, and healthcare industries. Once data is stolen in a breach, it often appears on dark web marketplaces within days or weeks — sometimes selling for pocket change.

The Cost of Data Breaches: Financial Losses and Reputational Damage

Average data breach costs reached $4.88 million in 2024, according to IBM’s 2024 report. These costs usually include a range of expenses such as incident investigation, regulatory fines, legal fees, customer notification, credit monitoring services, system recovery, and lost business due to reputational damage.

However, the damaging consequences of a data breach don’t just end here. Beyond the immediate financial hit, businesses face long-term challenges that can be even more devastating.

NordStellar: Detecting Threats Early and Minimizing Damage

NordStellar is a threat exposure management platform created by the company behind NordVPN. It detects threats early, minimizes damage, and ensures businesses can respond before a breach escalates.

With data from both public and private sources, NordStellar keeps an eye on data breaches, malware infections, and leaked credentials to spot compromised employee or client information.

NordStellar’s Features: Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats

  • Compromised credential detection and blocking
  • Real-time alerts for stolen session cookies and compromised credentials
  • Malware-infected account monitoring and alerting
  • Session cookie invalidation to block attackers

Other tips for avoiding data breaches include:

  • Identifying vulnerabilities
  • Monitoring for leaked data
  • Responding quickly to prevent stolen information from being exploited

Conclusion: Don’t Wait for a Data Breach

A data breach can have devastating consequences, from financial losses and legal troubles to reputational damage and business disruptions. Being proactive is the only way to stay ahead of cyber threats.

Businesses must identify vulnerabilities, monitor for leaked data, and respond quickly to prevent stolen information from being exploited. NordStellar helps businesses do exactly that. Its threat exposure management solutions detect compromised credentials, block unauthorized access, and provide real-time alerts to stop cyberattacks before they escalate.