Upon discovering a data breach, it is crucial for a company to take immediate and appropriate actions to mitigate damage, comply with legal obligations, and maintain trust with stakeholders. The initial steps should focus on understanding the scope of the breach and informing those affected.

Option B:Notify affected users.

Rationale:Timely notification to individuals whose data has been compromised is often a legal requirement and is essential for allowing affected parties to take protective measures, such as changing passwords or monitoring financial accounts.

Option C:Assess the breach.

Rationale:Conducting a thorough assessment to determine the nature, extent, and source of the breach is critical. This assessment informs the company's response strategy, helps in containing the breach, and prevents future incidents.

Option A:Delete data.

Rationale:Deleting data immediately after a breach is not advisable, as it may be needed for forensic analysis to understand the breach and to comply with legal investigations.

Option D:Back up the system.

Rationale:While regular backups are a best practice, initiating a backup immediately after discovering a breach may inadvertently save compromised data or malware. It's essential first to assess and ensure the integrity of the system before performing backups.

Option E:Issue a press release.

Rationale:Public communication is important but should follow internal assessments and direct notifications to affected users. Premature public statements without a full understanding of the breach can lead to misinformation.

Option F:Delay reporting.

Rationale:Delaying the reporting of a data breach can have legal repercussions and erode trust with customers and stakeholders. Prompt reporting is both a legal obligation in many jurisdictions and a best practice.