IMF Data Breach Highlights Need for Data Recovery Strategy

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently admitted it suffered a "very major data breach" after becoming the victim of a complex hacking attack.

The IMF refused to reveal the exact details of the attack, but did describe the attack as a "cyber-security incident" which they were in the process of investigating. Some reports suggested the attack was part of an attempt to install unauthorised software on the organisation's systems, in order to create a "digital insider presence" on internal dealings at the IMF. This could theoretically give governments or other organisations insights into confidential proceedings at the IMF.

The IMF's admission followed the revelation by Google that hackers had also attempted to bgain access to its data, targeting the email accounts of US policy makers. Even security technology firm RSA said it had been the victim of a data attack earlier in the year.

The spate of recent stories about security breaches at some of the world's largest and most significant companies and organisations shows that nobody is safe from malicious cyber-attacks. Even companies set up to offer cyber-security have found themselves victims, and the importance of devising and implementing an effective data recovery strategy has become greater than ever.

On top of the need for hard drive recovery strategies in the event of hardware failures, companies must be aware of the risks of becoming the victim of malicious online activity and losing precious data to third parties. Employing a recognised data recovery partner, as well as having watertight data security procedures in place, can mean the difference between a full-scale disaster and a minor inconvenience.

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