On November 30, 2018, Marriott International, Inc. revealed a
data breach compromised the information of approximately 500
million guests in its Starwood guest reservation
database.1 In a public statement, Marriott explained it
received an alert from an internal security tool about an attempt
to access the Starwood database on September 8, 2018. This prompted
an investigation that exposed a history of unauthorized access to
the Starwood network dating back to 2014. It is the second largest
known data breach of consumer data on record and stands as a stark
reminder of the importance of a comprehensive cybersecurity
strategy that is not only reactive, but also proactive and
preventative.
