Antecedents and consequences of data breaches: A systematic review

Research on data breaches is scattered across disciplines and methodologies. To help consolidate it, we review 43 articles on data breaches' antecedents and 83 on their consequences. We find eight different categories each for antecedents and consequences. Most research is empirical-quantitative and employs an organizational unit of analysis. Theoretical lenses discovered range from a data breach as organizational crisis to criminological and privacy-specific theories. Our review provides researchers and practitioners with a synthesis of extant research and elaborates on future implications for data breach literature.

Automated summary

Research on data breaches is diverse and encompasses various disciplines and methodologies. This study reviewed 43 articles on the causes and 83 articles on the consequences of data breaches, identifying eight categories for each. The majority of the research employs an empirical-quantitative approach and focuses on organizational units as the analytical framework. Theoretical perspectives range from viewing data breaches as organizational crises to adoption of criminological and privacy-specific theories. This review provides a synthesis of existing research and highlights future implications for the data breach literature.