OneTrust Certified Privacy Professional Practice Exam

What is defined as a data breach under GDPR?

1. A failure to collect data properly

2. A breach of security leading to accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to personal data

3. A loss of client trust

4. Any incident that occurs while processing data

The correct answer is: A breach of security leading to accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to personal data

A data breach under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is specifically defined as a breach of security that results in the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to personal data. This definition emphasizes the security aspect and the impact on personal data, highlighting that a breach must involve either a compromise in data integrity or unauthorized access to the data. Terms like "accidental or unlawful" indicate that the definition covers both intentional and unintentional incidents that lead to exposure or loss of personal data, which is integral to understanding compliance with GDPR. Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable person, and protecting this data is paramount to GDPR. In contrast, some other options do not align with this specific definition. For instance, a failure to collect data properly does not necessarily involve a breach of security, which is a critical component of the definition. Likewise, a loss of client trust, while consequential for an organization, is not itself a breach of data; it is more a reputational issue that could arise from a breach rather than being a definition of one. Lastly, incidents occurring during data processing could encompass a wide range of activities, many of which do not involve a breach of security under GDPR standards