If a breach is determined, what must the company do within 30 days?

The requirement to send a notice to affected individuals within 30 days is a key obligation in the event of a data breach. This legal mandate is often rooted in privacy laws and regulations, which aim to ensure transparency and protection for individuals whose personal information may have been compromised. Timely notification is essential, as it allows affected individuals to take appropriate steps to protect themselves from potential identity theft or fraud as a result of the breach.

Notifying affected individuals forms part of the broader commitment to ethical practices in data management and maintains trust between consumers and organizations. This obligation is in line with various state laws and federal regulations that govern data breaches, mandating specific timelines for communication following a breach incident.

While informing employees about the breach, destroying compromised data, or filing a report with law enforcement might be necessary actions in certain contexts, they do not directly address the primary responsibility of notifying those whose information has been compromised. Hence, notifying affected individuals is the most critical and legally required action in this scenario.