How poor cybersecurity practices limit your law firm’s success
With cybersecurity fast becoming a risk to businesses, it’s a law firm’s responsibility to safeguard the business against any attacks and not solely rely on the IT team to do all the work.
Cybercriminality is on the rise, and it would seem that one of the most attractive targets are law firms, given the high levels of sensitive information and confidential client information. Law businesses also have access to accounts that can hold substantial sums of client money - that’s attractive to a criminal. With digital defences often low in this industry, even larger law firms can fall victim to scams and hacking if the proper protection isn’t in place.
For this reason, law firms need to up their cybersecurity practices to prevent threats and minimise the damage caused by unauthorised access.
How to mitigate the risks
Many of the mistakes made by law firms over the years when it comes to cybersecurity have been well documented, but rather than experience it for yourselves, get prepared and protected now before an incident occurs. There are several ways to do this:
Continually reassess your policies and controls
Every law firm needs a robust cybersecurity policy in place, yet so many neglect this vital area which leaves them vulnerable. Staying ahead of threats and responding before it achieves its objectives is the trick to preventing a significant incident.
Already have a policy for your business? It should be reassessed regularly and new controls implemented as technology and threats evolve, so you’re always one step ahead. Having a protocol to follow in the event of a threat can really focus your decision-making in times of need, which impacts your loss and recovery.
Keep security training up to date
Cybersecurity training isn’t a one-and-done situation. As new people join the team, technology evolves and new threats become an issue, your training and education need to adapt. So many law firms neglect to train their staff on the risks and what to do in different situations, but it makes it more challenging to respond appropriately and mitigate those risks altogether.
Training also helps firms to sign off on competency statements and implement the right data protection regulations that can prevent them from breaching guidelines and incurring heavy penalties. Putting the proper data security and protection policies in place, as well as training staff properly and regularly is reassuring. It also serves as proof that everyone in the team is capable of acting in the best interests of the clients and their assets.
Don’t neglect mobile devices
Mobile devices may be convenient and enable law professionals to work from anywhere, but they’re also a haven for security mistakes. As such, endpoint protection has to cover mobile and IoT devices. A good practice is to include anti-virus software and two-factor authentication for any sensitive interactions, but also regular backing up of data and having specific cybercrime insurance in place. Staff should also be reminded regularly of the importance of using VPNs and logging off when the devices aren’t being used so they can’t be accessed by other people.
