# Retrieve the Data Loss Events
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/use-cases/risk-assessment/datalossevent/index.md

A [data loss or a data breach event](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/glossary/index.md#breach-events) is the release or destruction of sensitive, confidential, or protected data through an untrusted environment. Data breaches can occur due to several reasons, such as a hacker attack, an inside job by individuals currently or previously employed by an organization, unintentional loss or exposure of data due to computer viruses, or human error.

RiskRecon continuously analyzes the cybersecurity configurations of its customers and their related third parties, which have risk relationships with them. The RiskRecon cybersecurity assessment platform continuously monitors the cybersecurity hygiene of each of these companies by analyzing their internet-facing systems and related signal intelligence.

Besides rating across areas, such as [software patching](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/glossary/index.md#software-patching), [network filtering](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/glossary/index.md#network-filtering), and [application security](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/glossary/index.md#application-security), RiskRecon ratings for each organization are also impacted by the rate of breach events occurring in these organizations. Organizations with poor cybersecurity hygiene have a higher frequency of breach events than those with good cybersecurity hygiene.

Organizations with breach events occurring consistently, over time, likely have ineffective breach prevention programs and material gaps in their information security program that they need to address. RiskRecon's [Data Loss Events API](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/getting-started/index.md#data-loss) provides insights on material issues that have resulted in the loss of sensitive information. Through this endpoint, you can monitor vendor progress and hold your vendors accountable to protect your risk interests well.

The following endpoints are available in the `Data Loss Events API` to help you to retrieve data loss or data breach events across your portfolio:

|          API           |             Endpoint             |                                                                                                        Use Case                                                                                                        |
|------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `Data Loss Events API` | `GET Portfolio Data Loss Events` | [Retrieve a Collection of Data Loss or Data Breach Events across your Portfolio](https://developer.mastercard.com/riskrecon-api/documentation/use-cases/risk-assessment/datalossevent/retrve-data-loss-evnts/index.md) |
| `Data Loss Events API` | `GET Data Loss Events for a TOE` | This is a legacy endpoint. It is recommended to use the `GET Portfolio Data Loss Events` due to added functionalities.                                                                                                 |