Law firms must protect sensitive data and prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. The biggest risks are unsecured Wi-Fi, accidental data exposure through email attachments or internal messaging apps and weak third-party software security measures.
Hackers can steal information for profit, sell it or even hold it hostage until a ransom is paid. To combat this threat, the firm must create a strong information governance plan and ensure it is adhered to by employees.
Secure Storage
Regardless of size, law firms store any files on their computers and networks that document trade secrets, financial reports, healthcare information and other privileged documents related to cases. This data is sensitive and valuable to cyber criminals, making legal professionals a primary target for hackers.
Any leaks of this information could lead to serious consequences for clients’ privacy, not to mention the potential for disciplinary action by state bars and a loss of business. Because of the sensitivity of the information they handle, attorneys must have a solution to protect confidential client records from cyberattacks. In the past, these records were typically stored in filing cabinets or desk drawers, where they were vulnerable to theft and a variety of other security threats.
Many legal firm teams now manage client intakes, form submittals and paperwork through digital software that saves files to the cloud and allows users to access those documents at any time. While a secure storage solution is necessary for protecting confidential information, it’s also important to have a robust data encryption system in place as well.
These systems convert text, forms and other readable legal data into a code that humans cannot read and are an effective way to keep confidential client information safe from cyber-attacks.
Secure Access
Law firms rely on third-party software and applications like Versa Networks to help with billing, documentation, accounting and other essential tasks. These external systems must be secure to prevent hackers from intercepting confidential client information and stealing data. It’s important to have practices that prevent employees from sharing sensitive data via email, messaging apps and other channels. Protecting remote workers is critical so that data is only accessible when needed.
Firms must have a clear security policy to ensure everyone understands their role in securing their network. For example, employees should only download files with firm approval or share information with unauthorized people. This can lead to a serious data breach that could impact client privacy and cause legal ramifications.
While it may seem simple, implementing a security policy takes time and effort. Having an IT professional review the firm’s procedures to identify and address any issues is key to protecting confidential information.
Streamlined security solutions can protect your entire organization from cyber attacks. A SASE architecture combines advanced SD-WAN functionality with comprehensive cybersecurity services as one solution. This helps reduce complexity, simplify management and improve performance for the entire enterprise. The integrated platform is built with Zero Trust principles, so only trusted apps, devices, and services can access the network.
In addition, it allows IT teams to eliminate vendor lock-in and unified views into infrastructure deployments, security configurations and reports.
Secure Messaging
Legal firms are trusted with highly confidential client information and must adhere to attorney-client privilege laws. As a result, they are often the target of cybercriminals seeking quick and relatively easy access to valuable information that can be monetized for profit. This is why cybersecurity should be a top priority for law firms.
Sadly, many firms fail to prioritize cybersecurity. The lack of security measures can allow hackers to steal critical data and compromise the firm’s operations. The lack of a security policy can also make it difficult to manage third-party vendors and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
The best way to secure your law firm is by using a security solution that can provide robust protection for cloud platforms, remote working and various devices. A modern WAN network with security that can scale and support multiple interfaces makes it much easier to comply with data privacy laws like the EU GDPR and USA CCPA.
For example, an IT professional for a leading law firm wanted to deploy a solution enabling his team to securely connect to applications and devices while enforcing different connection policies based on user location. They required a resilient, cloud-first SASE approach that could seamlessly secure mobile devices and connect to their office network.
Secure Backup
Having the right backup is vital to law firm data storage. It prevents sensitive files from being lost in a disaster. It ensures that the firm can continue to work as usual, even after a natural disaster or other catastrophic event. Encryption helps prevent hackers from intercepting private information during communications, including messaging apps and emails between attorneys and clients.
An IT professional can recommend the best options for your law firm to help secure communication channels and protect client records. Password policies, two-factor authentication and login safeguards can help keep unauthorized users out of your system. A secure client portal also keeps communications encrypted and secure.
Modern business demands agility, scalability and improved security. SASE enables this by making security part of the network fabric. This enables Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) that allows employees to securely access applications while minimizing the enterprise attack surface and reducing cyber threats.
Ensuring only staff members can access the necessary information is important. An IT professional can help you set up and enforce need-to-know access restrictions and remove user accounts and access when someone leaves the firm. It’s also crucial to have a plan for securing your network if a disaster strikes, like a natural disaster, power outage or data breach.
