Training and support are key to fending off cyberattacks

Cultivating a culture of security in your law firm can help protect its assets and sensitive information from hostile third parties, says Gary Shaw at Accesspoint.

As we all now know, assuring a high level of security within your firm has become increasingly difficult, especially as the world continues to move in a more digitally motivated and agile direction.

Law firms remain top targets for cyberattacks, as they hold sensitive client information and handle significant funds – making the financial rewards for such attacks ever more appealing. Judging from the last 18 months, we can all vouch for the fact that remote working is here to stay, so now is the time for you to revisit the ways your firm maintains a high level of security and rigour.

Security defence starts within a law firm’s team. A recent survey found that 56% of senior IT technicians think their employees have picked up bad cybersecurity habits, with nearly 39% admitting that their cybersecurity practices at home are more relaxed than those practiced in the office, due to less surveillance and a high level of correspondence. Just imagine the amount of damage that could occur if a successful attack is made on even one transaction between a client and firm. Not only will sensitive data become exposed but the level of trust that any current or future clients have in the firm will instantly diminish. Keeping your team aware of the most common threats that your practice can face – such as phishing scams, data breaches and other common tactics – will make a huge difference. Don’t assume everyone knows or understands!

Several tell-tale signs could alert a member of the team to a scam, such as email and website spoofing, malicious links and attachments, urgent subjects, calls-to-action, and more. Keep your team clued in on current methods and consider partnering up with a reputable legal-IT specialist to provide phishing awareness training. This could ensure your team knows how to protect your firm from unauthorised third parties. Additionally, always encourage your team to act fast and inform someone immediately if they think there has been a breach of data. On average, it can take up to 279 days to identify a breach. Perhaps think of ways to create a safe and approachable workplace environment, especially with home working. It could save you a world of trouble.

It is important to note that although cyber-criminals are not always tech-savvy geniuses, they are becoming more organised and moving from scattered attacks to more calculated hits. This is why it is vital to ensure your firm takes the necessary precautions and actions now before it’s too late. Then start thinking and planning for the future and how you can be protected further.

We’ve mentioned before that portals are the future for unmatched security and the need for this is certainly growing. They can instantly neutralise the possibility of an attack, by replacing the need for emails through a secure hub designed for not only client and solicitor communication but also a multitude of other reporting and transactional features. Additionally, a fully integrated, secure, cloud-based legal platform can act as a utopia for efficiency and reporting –  topped off with a network effect for your firm’s community. It also creates a base for large-scale change towards a more secure working environment.

Explore the wide range of options available today to keep your firm safe, and save your firm and its clients from disaster.