CyberSecurity Solutions For Law Firms
Law firms face threats from all angles - client data is extremely valuable and at risk, if not protected properly.
Some common cyber threats to law firms include:
Insider Threat
Phishing
Ransomware
Legal Industry Cybersecurity Challenges
The industry does not have regulatory guidelines or mandated security policies in place to ensure consistent data protection standards are upheld to protect sensitive data against, theft, misuse and data alterations. The result is that security is not always as big a focus as it should be. Not surprisingly, law firms are high-value targets for cybercriminals looking for quick and relatively easy access to information that is monetized for personal gain.
Lawyers need to be easily accessible to clients and rely on email to communicate with their clients and exchange information. They also need to store and quickly access archived information around the clock. Any downtime due to a cyberattack equates to a direct loss of money for the firm as every minute spent unable to access critical records is time law firms cannot bill for.
Importance of Cybersecurity for Law Firms
Law firms are high-value targets, not only because they store incredibly valuable and sensitive client information, but also because of the loose regulatory guidelines and the lack of data protection regulations. This makes them incredibly vulnerable and sensitive information can easily fall into the wrong hands. Thus, cybersecurity is especially important for law firms and should be treated as a priority.
The Secunets Legal Industry Cybersecurity Solution
Advanced data leak prevention stops sensitive information from being shared with unauthorized individuals. Secure messaging enables lawyers to initiate secure email delivery with clients and Internal Email Protect provides threat monitoring and remediation services to protect against threats that originate within your firm's email system. An industry-leading 7-second SLA provides fast e-discovery and access to archived emails while a 100% service availability SLA ensures emails and attachments are accessible and continue to flow during a primary server outage or cyber event.
Secunets delivers a pervasive email security strategy that ensures private client data is secure and your law firm's access to and ability to search through email is minimally impacted during a cyberattack.
Secunets provides a cybersecurity solution that gives organizations the ability to:
Protect sensitive client information and your firm from spear-phishing, ransomware, impersonation and other advanced attacks.
Eliminate the impact of email outages to maintain productivity.
Archiving emails and rapidly respond to litigation requests.
Encrypt email messages and share attachments securely.
Protect your firm’s reputation by preventing malicious internal breaches and brand impersonation attacks.
Reduce cyber risk by improving security awareness.
Block malicious or inappropriate web activity.
5 Security Measures Law Firms Must Implement
Cyber security threats like ransomware and phishing attacks are top of mind across the legal industry. Firms are responsible for keeping data safe, and in today’s ever-evolving world of technology, law firm clients are requiring specific security measures be implemented and rigorously followed.
1.) Impose Multi-Factor Authentication Requirements
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a multi-step account login process that requires users to provide one or more additional verification factors to decrease the likelihood of a successful cyberattack. While strong passwords are important, they shouldn’t be the only method relied upon to protect data. MFA adds an additional level of protection such as: asking for answers to personal security questions; verification codes sent to other devices; or authentication apps that use biometrics like fingerprints and facial recognition to confirm the user’s identity.
2.) Require Security Awareness Training
Most firms have some level of cyber security training incorporated into their on boarding processes. However, some roles still don’t require it. Requiring all employees to complete security awareness training increases their understanding of cyber threats and empowers them to take proactive steps to ensure security policies are followed when handling company and client data. Firms that regularly train and test employees on data security practices, phishing email scams, and other attack techniques are more likely to prevent potential breaches.
3.) Implement Proactive Threat Hunting
There is a good chance firms have active cyber threats lurking undetected in their network. Threat Hunting is essential to achieving maximum cyber protection. If hackers evade early detection, they can live within a firm’s network for months. Once a hacker has access to an inner network, most firms lack the advanced detection capabilities needed to stop further attacks. “Threat Hunters” assume there are already invaders in the network and consistently scan for unusual and anomalous behavior that may indicate the presence of malicious activity.
4.) Institute Robust Information Security Policies
One of the best ways to ensure preparedness is to develop and implement IT and cybersecurity policies. Security policies are now being required by cyber insurance carriers and some law firm clients. Documented policies should include acceptable use, business continuity, incident response, records management and data loss, mobile devices, and passwords.
These policies are the foundation for programs, consistency, communication, and clarity around a law firm’s operations. As a set of internal standards, they will provide law firm staff the guiding principles and responsibilities necessary to safeguard firm data and systems. Most importantly, it’s not just a matter of the firm having these policies in-place but also having an annual review and run-through, known as a “tabletop exercise”. If your firm has policies but does not run the annual “tabletop exercise” then you are at significant risk when an incident occurs.
5.) The Latest Cyber Insurance Requirements to Get Coverage
In response to the growing threat of data breaches, cyber insurance policies are finally addressing the need to stay on top of the constantly evolving cyber threats facing law firms and their clients by demanding cybersecurity policies and practices be implemented and regularly monitored. Insurance companies also recognize the likelihood that firms who may be less aware of cyber threats or historically unprotected may already have a hacker in their system the day coverage is activated. Firms must now prove they have security measures in place at least 30-60 days prior to receiving coverage.
By being proactive in implementing strategies that safeguard and protect client information, firms better protect data and ensure they are covered in the event of an attack.
Not all breaches will be prevented, but education and planning will help mitigate and minimize the impact. At Frontline, we believe a proactive, comprehensive approach to cybersecurity is key. Our team of 100+ cyber professionals provide solutions that are easily scalable, efficient and cost effective. Our tested methodologies, experience, full suite of security best practices and 360 degree approach to technology and cybersecurity protect your firm on every front.
