What is a significant risk of not following proper data protection protocols?

Not following proper data protection protocols can lead to potential data breaches and losses, which is a significant risk for organizations. When data protection measures are inadequate, sensitive information such as personal data, financial details, and proprietary business information becomes vulnerable to unauthorized access, cyberattacks, or accidental disclosures.

Consequences of data breaches can be severe, including legal repercussions, loss of customer trust, damage to reputation, and significant financial losses. Organizations may face fines and regulations if they fail to protect user data according to privacy laws, such as GDPR or HIPAA. Additionally, recovering from a breach often requires substantial investments in incident response efforts, system upgrades, and enhanced security measures. Therefore, the failure to adhere to data protection protocols can have profound and lasting negative impacts on an organization.