In response to a data breach, what immediate action should be taken?

Changing passwords for all accounts is a crucial and immediate action to take in response to a data breach. This step helps to secure accounts that may have been compromised during the breach, especially if there’s a chance that attackers have gained access to specific credentials. By changing passwords, organizations can reduce the risk of further unauthorized access and control the situation more effectively.

While reviewing user permissions, notifying affected individuals, and conducting a threat assessment are important parts of the broader response plan to a data breach, they typically follow the immediate need to secure access through password changes. Effectively, communication and audits are critical, but they do not provide instant mitigation of a breach's immediate impact. The priority must be to safeguard sensitive information by ensuring that all accounts are secure against further access.