As cyberattacks continue to escalate, law firms are increasingly concerned about keeping their data safe and secure. Many cyberattacks have been perpetrated by organized crime syndicates and “gangs” of malicious actors known as ransomware gangs. From 2020 to 2021, one quarter of all data breaches were due to ransomware. And ransomware technology was used in almost three quarters of all malware infections.
How are these malicious actors gaining footholds in secure data? They are exploiting desktop-sharing software as more firms move to remote or hybrid workspaces. They are using social engineering and phishing techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in staffing, and they are stealing or buying credentials where they can, in order to gain access.
Most recently, the midsized law firm of Stevens & Lee, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was compromised, putting the personal information of more than 23,000 people at risk. While this breach was certainly not the only one, or even the largest, it does underscore the growing risk of breaches due to nonsecure client data at law firms.
Fortunately, there are some cybersecurity best practices that can assist your firm in keeping data protected — and secured.
Five Cybersecurity Best Practices Your Law Firm Should Adopt Now
With nearly a third of all law office on the receiving end of some type of cyberattack, it is more important than ever to create a list of cybersecurity best practices that your legal firm can adopt. Remember, cybersecurity is not just for your IT team to manage or for C-Suite to worry about — it is for everyone in your firm.
Make Sure Data is Backed Up
Seems obvious, but your firm should have redundant — that is, more than one — place to back up your sensitive data. Since most cyberattacks are using ransomware, which is malicious software that renders data inaccessible or unusable until a ransom is paid — having more than one backup is critical. That way, if your firm does experience a breach, you will still have access to the data you need to conduct business, reducing downtime and improving business continuity.
Stay On Top of Maintenance
Let’s face it — cybercriminals are experts at exploiting vulnerabilities in software and hardware. That is why it is imperative that your firm keeps all infrastructure and software updated and maintained. In particular, your IT team should install any patches the minute they become available, as they are typically created in response to a known vulnerability.
Make Access Control a Priority
Many law firms use software integrations such as DocuSign and others that require sign ins and logins in order to be useful. Using multi-factor authentication alongside strong passwords is the first step toward limited access to authorized users only. In addition, your IT systems should include some type of access control that will allow administrative staff to quickly and easily grant — or revoke — access to data on an as-needed basis, reducing the probability for inappropriate credential use.
Consult with Experts
Lawyers are experts at legal matters, but your firm should leave cybersecurity to the experts in Managed IT. Most firms have small, if any, in-house IT assistance and typically don’t have the budget to hire talent with leading-edge knowledge of the threat landscape. Partnering with a third party managed services provider can help your firm get the advanced technology and cybersecurity strategies that can keep your defenses strong.
Blue Technologies Has Cybersecurity Expertise Standing By
Cybersecurity is a multi-faceted technology that shifts and changes as hackers modify and expand the threat landscape. Keeping up to date with the latest developments can be difficult, especially for firms that have a small IT department or no access to in-house IT help at all.
At Blue Technologies, our team of cybersecurity experts are just that — professionals with a deep knowledge of leading-edge techniques and tools that are designed to keep your data safer, even as new threats emerge. Not only can we provide an expert assessment of your current vulnerabilities, but we can design a cybersecurity strategy that is custom tailored to the needs and challenges faced by your firm.
Don’t take a risk with your customer or firm data. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant to learn how our team of IT and cybersecurity experts can design a robust cybersecurity strategy for today’s emerging threats.