What is a breach?

A breach is identified as a privacy incident that poses a risk of harm to applicable individuals. This means that it involves an event where sensitive or personal information is accessed, disclosed, or used without authorization, potentially leading to adverse effects like identity theft, financial loss, or emotional distress for individuals whose information has been compromised. The significance of this definition highlights the critical nature of protecting personal information and the potential consequences of failing to do so, which can have legal and ethical ramifications.

In contrast, the other choices involve actions that are not breaches. Using customers' information to search for plans is typically part of standard operations and doesn't inherently pose a risk to individual privacy if done responsibly and with consent. Additionally, obtaining written permission from a customer is a proactive and compliant behavior that ensures transparency and respect for customer privacy. These actions are intended to maintain good practices in handling customer information, whereas a breach directly refers to a failure in safeguarding that information.