By: Jay Feldman
A report by Cybersecurity Ventures found that a cyber attack occurred approximately every 39 seconds in 2023. This translates into an average of more than 2,220 cyber attacks per day. Unfortunately, some businesses are more at risk of being targeted by cyber attacks than others, with law firms being among the commonly targeted businesses.
As an experienced attorney and Chief Innovator at Monjur, a leading legal services provider, Rob Scott knows firsthand how dangerous cyber attacks can be for the security of a practice. “Law firms handle vast amounts of sensitive information, including client data, proprietary business information, and confidential legal strategies,” he explains. “The legal sector is a prime target for cyberattacks because of the valuable information it holds. As such, maintaining robust cybersecurity measures is critical to protecting both the firm and its clients.”
Scott continues, explaining that cyber attacks can have severe consequences for law firms. “When a law firm experiences a cybersecurity breach, the ramifications can be extensive and damaging,” he says. “A breach can have severe consequences, such as financial loss, damage to reputation, and legal repercussions.”
Understanding the Consequences of Data Breaches for Law Firms
Some of the common consequences that Scott says law firm leaders can expect include:
- Data theft: One of the serious consequences of a cyber attack is data theft. For a law firm, this can mean the loss of anything from sensitive client information to intellectual property and confidential communications.
- Financial loss: Cyber attacks are often associated with significant financial losses — both direct and indirect. Hackers may demand ransom for the return of data, or they may steal account information that allows them to access the firm’s finances. Should a firm’s negligence be found to contribute to a cyber attack, it may also face fines, penalties, and loss of business.
- Reputational damage: If a law firm’s negligence causes its clients’ information to be stolen, its reputation can suffer significantly, if not irreparably. Existing clients may begin to mistrust the firm, while potential clients may take their business elsewhere if word gets out.
- Operational disruption: If a cyber attack steals and restricts access to a firm’s data, this could cause substantial downtime. This loss of productivity could be concerning for lawyers, whose time is already stretched thin.
- Legal consequences: Law firms that fall victim to cyber attacks could also face serious legal consequences, including lawsuits from clients whose data was compromised and potential fines or penalties from regulatory bodies whose guidelines were violated.
Preventing and Remediating the Consequences of Data Breaches for Law Firms
Although everyone would like to think that they won’t fall victim to a cyber attack, it is always better to be prepared for a worst-case scenario than to be caught off-guard. Because of this, Scott recommends that lawyers who operate their own law firms have an incident response plan and backup and disaster recovery plan in place.
“Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to quickly address and mitigate the impact of any breach,” Scott explains. “Furthermore, regularly backing up data and having a disaster recovery plan in place ensures quick recovery in case of an attack.”
However, an even better approach is if one takes proactive steps to protect their and their clients’ data from potential cyber attacks. Cybersecurity technology has become more available and affordable than ever before, meaning that even small law firms can afford to invest in a scalable solution that fits their data protection needs. Beyond that, there are a few “do it yourself” steps lawyers can take to ensure sensitive data does not fall into the wrong hands.
According to Scott, the basic steps for data protection include implementing access control measures and requiring strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA). “Implement strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information,” he notes, “and require MFA for accessing critical systems to create an additional layer of security.”
As Scott explains, another fundamental step law firms can take to protect data is basic encryption. “Encrypt sensitive data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access,” he says. Steps like encrypting data on personal devices and using SSH to access data on unsecured networks provide a necessary line of defense for data.
For lawyers who want to improve their data security even further, it can be worth investing in an intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS). An IDPS allows lawyers to detect and respond to suspicious activities in real time by helping them monitor the network and ensure wrongdoers cannot access data they are not supposed to.
That being said, perhaps the single greatest asset a firm has to protect its data is its employees. By keeping employees abreast of the latest cybersecurity threats and protective measures, leaders can empower their employees to take control of their own cybersecurity.
“Regular training sessions on recognizing phishing attempts, using strong passwords, and following best security practices,” Scott suggests.
Due to the sensitive nature of the data they possess, law firms are often one of the high-value targets for hackers and their cyber attacks. Thankfully, by following Rob Scott’s advice and taking proactive steps to protect their data, lawyers can prevent themselves from falling victim to the serious consequences of a data breach.
Published by Jeremy S.
