5 Risk Factors Affecting Cybersecurity for Law Firms

Every sector which is tied to its stakeholders digitally is assured of having tons of sensitive data. We often come across news of huge data being stolen from social networking giants like Facebook or healthcare breaches across the United States. Which makes it evident that law firms are not exempted from risks posed by #cybersecurity. Especially in the law sector, there is a growing need for strong cybersecurity measures. Law firms deal with client information, intellectual property, sensitive business information, and other confidential or proprietary data.

Cyber threats are constantly strengthening. It is now one of the biggest hazards a #lawfirm can encounter and is no longer only a concern for technology. Big law firms in the US have recently suffered catastrophic cybersecurity breaches that cost them millions of dollars. The responsibility of cybersecurity should not be limited to the IT department, nor should it be considered mandatory only for small law firms or individual lawyers. It must be covered in the fundamental guidelines for implementing new technologies within the organization or in its services.

What are the most common threats, and how can you deal with them?

1. Phishing

Besides using online services like Dropbox or DocuSign that require users to connect their email accounts for login purposes, lawyers frequently use email accounts throughout their work. Unfortunately, fraudsters are becoming more inventive in their use of phishing techniques to access employees' email accounts at #legalfirms. Hackers can impersonate sign-in screens with really impressive color schemes. 

The three most crucial steps a legal business can take to safeguard oneself against this kind of attack are to use strong credentials, avoid reusing credentials across different platforms, and make use of double-authentication. To avoid a data breach, it's critical for your network security provider to respond quickly if you believe you've fallen victim to a phishing scam.

2. Ransomware Viruses

Ransomware is still a cybersecurity issue, especially for businesses like law firms that hold sensitive client information, although being significantly less prevalent in favor of more sophisticated and covert attacks like bitcoin mining. 

Although ransomware comes in a variety of forms and sizes, the main concept is that it gets onto your device—often by occidental clicking a malicious link or downloading an infected file - then makes threats, holds your systems/files hostage, or utilizes scare tactics until payment is made.

3. Data Leak

Law firms are more vulnerable to data leaks than the average business since they retain and communicate sensitive information. Through malware, phishing scams, hacks, or email spoofing, they may be particularly targeted in order to steal sensitive customer data or financial information. 

It requires the right amalgamation of user security policies and security tools to stop data breaches. To prevent data breaches and to respond quickly if they do happen, it is advisable for law firms to incorporate network security components such as access control, antivirus, and anti-malware, communication security, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and security information and event management (SIEM), etc.

4. Malpractice Allegation

When it comes to safeguarding yourself from potential lawsuits, no one is more aware than law firms, they understand the significance of crossing your t's and dotting your I's. Measures against data breaches and leaks are more crucial than ever due to the volatility in the cybersecurity environment. When dissatisfied customers believe their data wasn't handled securely, class-action lawsuits and individual disagreements may cultivate. 

Complete cybersecurity is not something a firm can achieve with a few days of work. Especially for law firms that hold and transmit sensitive information. To prevent cybersecurity threats, it is necessary to modify internal systems and security, and vigilant measures are needed to promptly detect and address breaches. 

It is obvious that law firms are always at threat of cybercrime and must take precautions to safeguard their clients' data. Firms need to take action now to stop future data breaches and the ensuing problems. Similar to how your law firm must have enough malpractice cybersecurity insurance, having enough data protection is important.