What is a primary risk associated with data at rest?

The primary risk associated with data at rest is unauthorized access or breaches. Data at rest refers to inactive data stored physically in any digital form (such as databases or data warehouses). This data can be vulnerable to unauthorized access if proper security measures are not in place.

Attackers may exploit vulnerabilities in systems or use social engineering tactics to gain access to sensitive data. Once they have access, they can steal, modify, or delete the information, which can result in severe consequences for organizations, such as financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liabilities. Thus, protecting data at rest involves implementing strong security controls like encryption, access controls, and regular security audits to mitigate the risks of unauthorized access and potential breaches.