---
title: What Do You Do When A Company Compromises Your Data?
description: Learn what to do when a company compromises your data and how to protect yourself with these seven crucial steps. Stay informed and safeguard your information.
image: https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/iStock-1067143054.jpg
---

[Securafy Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com)

- [Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover)
- [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools)
- [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books)

[Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call)

[Topics](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-cover) [Tools](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-tools) [Books & Guides](https://blog.securafy.com/#sf-books) [Talk to Securafy](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call)

[Knowledge Hub](https://blog.securafy.com) / [Compliance](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/compliance)

Compliance

# What Do You Do When A Company Compromises Your Data?

Learn what to do when a company compromises your data and how to protect yourself with these seven crucial steps. Stay informed and safeguard your information.

![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png) By Randy Hall Updated Aug 2024 5 min read Share [**](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data) [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data&text=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EWhat+Do+You+Do+When+A+Company+Compromises+Your+Data%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E) [**](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EWhat+Do+You+Do+When+A+Company+Compromises+Your+Data%3F%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data)

![iStock-1067143054](https://blog.securafy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1067143054.jpg?width=277&height=197&name=iStock-1067143054.jpg)With the rise in cyber-attacks worldwide, you’ve likely received more than one notification from a company you work with informing you that your data has been compromised in a breach. While there are steps we can take as consumers to protect ourselves, sometimes we can’t control when a company that promised to protect our personal data gets hacked.

In 2023, Statista reported that 52% of all global organization breaches involved customers’ personal identifiable information (PII), making your personal data – addresses, numbers, names, birth dates, SSNs, etc. – the most commonly breached type of data. A recent example is ChangeHealthcare, breached in February of this year. Due to the breach, it’s estimated that one-third of Americans – possibly including you – had sensitive information leaked onto the dark web.

So now what? What do you do when you receive a letter in the mail from your health care provider or favorite retail store admitting, “Whoops, we got breached.” It’s more than upsetting to think that your data is now in the hands of criminals.

When sensitive information leaks, you’ll have to do some recon to protect your accounts from suspicious activity. Follow these seven steps to stop the bleeding after a company fails to protect your data from being compromised. 

 

**What To Do After Your Data’s Been Leaked**

1. ** First, make sure the breach is legit.**

One ploy that hackers use to get our data is to impersonate popular companies and send out fake e-mails or letters about an alleged breach. Whenever you get a notification like this, go to the company’s website or call the company directly. Do NOT use information in the letter or e-mail because it could be fake. Verify that the company was hacked and which of your data may have been compromised. Try to get as much information as possible from the company about the breach. When did it happen? Was your data actually impacted? What support is the company offering its customers to mitigate the breach? For example, some companies offer yearlong free credit monitoring or identity fraud prevention.

1. ** Figure out what data was stolen.**

After speaking directly with the company, determine what data was stolen. Credit cards can be easily replaced; Social Security numbers, not so much. You’ll want to know what was compromised so you can take the necessary steps to monitor or update that information.

1. ** Change passwords and turn on MFA.**

After a breach, you’ll want to quickly update to a new, strong password for the breached account and any account with the same login credentials. Additionally, if you see an option to log out all devices currently logged in to your account, do that.

While you’re doing that, make sure you have multifactor authentication turned on in your account or privacy settings so that even if a hacker has your login, they can’t access your account without your biometric data or a separate code.

1. ** Monitor your accounts.**

Even after changing your passwords, you should keep a close eye on any accounts linked to the breach. Watch out for any account updates or password changes you didn’t authorize. They may be a sign of identity theft. If your credit card number was stolen, pay attention to your bank and financial accounts and look for unusual activity, such as unexpected purchases.

1. ** Report it.**

If you’re not sure a company knows it’s been breached or you’ve experienced fraud due to a breach, report it to relevant authorities like local law enforcement or the Federal Trade Commission. They can provide guidance and next steps on how to protect your identity.

1. ** Be aware of phishing attempts.**

Often, after data leaks, hackers use the information about you they stole to send you phishing e-mails or calls to trick you into giving away even *more* sensitive information. Be very wary of any e-mails you weren’t expecting, especially those that request personal or financial information, and avoid clicking on any links or attachments.

1. ** Consider identity theft and data breach protection.**

Consider identity theft protection after a breach, especially when highly sensitive data is stolen, like your SSN. It’s a time-consuming process to replace a Social Security card. In the meantime, criminals could be using it to impersonate you. Identity theft and data breach protection help monitor your credit or other accounts, protect your identity and notify you when your data appears on the dark web.

 

[Your IT concerns are our priority. Book a FREE Discovery Call and let’s talk solutions.](https://blog.securafy.com/discoverycall/)

Tagged Under [Compliance](https://blog.securafy.com/tag/compliance)Cyber Risk

In This Article

Need Help With Your Current Setup?

Talk through your current systems, risks, and support gaps with Securafy.

[Book a Strategy Call](https://meetings.hubspot.com/securafy/strategy-call)

## Join The Conversation

Have a question or perspective on this topic? Add it below.

![Randy Hall](https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/Randy%20Hall%202.png)

About The Author

Randy Hall · CEO & Founder

Randy Hall is the CEO and Founder of Securafy, with decades of experience helping organizations make smarter, safer decisions about technology.

 A frequent speaker and instructor at national IT events, Randy has advised thousands of organizations, from startups and SMBs to large enterprises and U.S. government entities, on secure, practical technology adoption. He writes about the decisions business leaders are often expected to make without enough context, including cybersecurity, compliance, AI, cyber insurance, IT strategy, and business resilience.

 Outside the office, you’ll often find Randy on Lake Erie enjoying time on his 38-foot Chris-Craft.

**Writes about:** Cybersecurity strategy, compliance, AI security, business resilience, cyber insurance, SMB risk, IT leadership

[More From This Author →](https://blog.securafy.com/author/randyhall)

Related Articles

Business Continuity [Compliance Risk Assessment: How Downtime Impacts Your Bottom Line](https://blog.securafy.com/compliance-risk-assessment-how-downtime-impacts-your-bottom-line)

When systems go down, compliance obligations don't pause—and the financial consequences ...

Jul 28, 2026

Compliance [HIPAA Security Rule Changes Are Delayed To 2027: Why Healthcare Organizations Should Not Wait](https://blog.securafy.com/hipaa-security-rule-changes-are-delayed-to-2027-why-healthcare-organizations-should-not-wait)

The updated HIPAA Security Rule won't take effect until 2027, but healthcare ...

Jul 23, 2026

Compliance [Multi Factor Authentication Best Practices for CJIS Security Policy Compliance](https://blog.securafy.com/multi-factor-authentication-best-practices-for-cjis-security-policy-compliance)

Law enforcement agencies and criminal justice organizations face mounting pressure to ...

Jul 16, 2026

Compliance [CMMC Phase II Has Been Suspended: What Defense Contractors Still Need To Do](https://blog.securafy.com/cmmc-phase-ii-has-been-suspended-what-defense-contractors-still-need-to-do)

The Department of Defense suspended CMMC Phase II enforcement, but that doesn't mean ...

Jul 15, 2026

IT Operations [Cybersecurity For Veterinary Clinics: Protecting Client Data, Payment Systems, And Practice Operations](https://blog.securafy.com/cybersecurity-for-veterinary-clinics-protecting-client-data-payment-systems-and-practice-operations)

Veterinary clinics handle sensitive client data, payment information, and critical ...

Jul 9, 2026

IT Operations [AT&T Cybersecurity, AlienVault USM, And Managed Security: What SMBs Still Need To Own](https://blog.securafy.com/att-cybersecurity-alienvault-usm-and-managed-security-what-smbs-still-need-to-own)

Managed security platforms like AT&T Cybersecurity and AlienVault USM provide ...

Jul 8, 2026

Get Practical Cybersecurity Field Notes

Monthly cybersecurity, compliance, and IT strategy updates from Securafy, written for business owners who need clear next steps.

- Practical security tips from our Cyber Security Drip series
- The Securafy Times, our monthly roundup on compliance and IT strategy
- Occasional updates on new tools, guides, and research
- No spam — unsubscribe anytime

NIST CSF 2.0 Zero Trust Application Control CISA Aligned Enterprise Partner

© 2026 Securafy — Columbus & Cleveland, Ohio

[Main Site](https://www.securafy.com/) [Blog Home](https://blog.securafy.com/) [Contact](https://www.securafy.com/contact.html) [Privacy Policy](https://www.securafy.com/privacy-policy.html)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Randy Hall",
    "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/author/randyhall"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-08-23T12:34:04.107Z",
  "datePublished" : "2024-08-01T12:33:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "What Do You Do When A Company Compromises Your Data?",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/iStock-1067143054.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/hubfs/securafy-logo.png"
    },
    "name" : "Securafy Inc."
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization",
  "@type" : "Organization",
  "address" : [ {
    "@type" : "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality" : "Columbus",
    "addressRegion" : "OH",
    "postalCode" : "43219",
    "streetAddress" : "4449 Easton Way, Suite 200"
  }, {
    "@type" : "PostalAddress",
    "addressLocality" : "Independence",
    "addressRegion" : "OH",
    "postalCode" : "44131",
    "streetAddress" : "6100 Oak Tree Blvd, Suite 200"
  } ],
  "areaServed" : [ "Columbus OH", "Cleveland OH", "Ohio" ],
  "name" : "Securafy Inc.",
  "url" : "https://securafy.com/"
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#website",
  "@type" : "WebSite",
  "inLanguage" : "en-US",
  "name" : "Securafy",
  "publisher" : {
    "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization"
  },
  "url" : "https://securafy.com/"
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/#blog",
  "@type" : "Blog",
  "name" : "Securafy Knowledge Hub",
  "publisher" : {
    "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization"
  },
  "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com"
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data#article",
  "@type" : "Article",
  "author" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.securafy.com/about-us/#randyhall",
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Randy Hall"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-08-23T12:34:04+00:00",
  "datePublished" : "2024-08-01T12:33:00+00:00",
  "description" : "Learn what to do when a company compromises your data and how to protect yourself with these seven crucial steps. Stay informed and safeguard your information.",
  "headline" : "What Do You Do When A Company Compromises Your Data?",
  "image" : "https://46124718.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/46124718/iStock-1067143054.jpg",
  "inLanguage" : "en-US",
  "isPartOf" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/#blog"
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@id" : "https://securafy.com/#organization"
  },
  "url" : "https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data"
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BreadcrumbList",
  "itemListElement" : [ {
    "@type" : "ListItem",
    "item" : "https://blog.securafy.com",
    "name" : "Knowledge Hub",
    "position" : 1
  }, {
    "@type" : "ListItem",
    "item" : "https://blog.securafy.com/what-do-you-do-when-a-company-compromises-your-data",
    "name" : "What Do You Do When A Company Compromises Your Data?",
    "position" : 2
  } ]
}
```