Back to Glossary

Glossary Term

Residual Data Exposure

Decommissioned systems retain data that remains accessible to attackers.

1 min read

Share this definition

Post it to your feed or send it to teammates.

Residual Data Exposure

1-minute read

What it is

Residual Data Exposure occurs when sensitive data remains accessible after systems, buckets, or devices are decommissioned.

Why it matters

Old backups, snapshots, or disks can still be discovered and exploited even if they are no longer part of active workflows, risking regulatory and contractual fallout.

How to reduce risk

  • Securely delete or destroy unused data, media, and cloud snapshots
  • Audit storage locations regularly for forgotten archives or exports
  • Implement lifecycle policies to expire and purge stale data automatically

Related Terms: Data Residency, Cloud Misconfiguration, Orphaned Cloud Resources

External Resources:

  • NIST Guidance on Media Sanitization: https://www.nist.gov