The 2010 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, based on a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service, has found that breaches of electronic records last year involved more insider threats, greater use of social engineering and the continued strong involvement of organized criminal groups.

The study, released on July 27, also noted that the overall number of breaches investigated last year declined for the previous year. The report cited stolen credentials as the most common way of gaining unauthorized access into organizations in 2009, pointing once again to the importance of strong security practices both for individuals and organizations. Organized criminal groups were responsible for 85 per cent of all stolen data last year, the report said. 

Verizon Business investigative experts found out that most breaches were considered avoidable if security basics had been followed. Only 4 per cent of breaches assessed required difficult and expensive protective measures. The report concluded that being prepared remains the best defence against security breaches. 

"This year, we were able to significantly widen our window into the dynamic world of data breaches, granting us an even broader and deeper perspective," said Peter Tippett, Verizon Business Vice-President of Technology and Enterprise Innovation. "By including information from the Secret Service caseload, we are expanding both our understanding of cybercrime and our ability to stop breaches."