Which type of data breach involves unauthorized access to sensitive information?

Data exfiltration specifically refers to the unauthorized transfer or extraction of sensitive data from a system, often by an attacker. This can involve various methods, such as hacking, insider threats, or malware, and is characterized by the compromise of security measures that protect sensitive information. When data exfiltration occurs, the integrity and confidentiality of the information are breached, leading to potential misuse or exposure.

In contrast, data replication pertains to creating copies of data for backup or redundancy purposes, while data corruption involves the deterioration of data integrity due to errors, whether through accidental changes or malicious actions. Data backup is the process of creating copies of data to prevent loss in case of failure or breach, but it does not inherently involve unauthorized access. Thus, the essence of a data breach lies in the unauthorized access and removal of sensitive data, clearly aligning with the definition of data exfiltration.