Law firms handle sensitive data, such as intellectual property and client records, which makes them an irresistible target for cybercriminals. In fact, a Proton study reported that 1 in 5 U.S. law firms were targeted by cyberattacks in 2024, with 10% of them suffering exposure.
Yet, most law firms still handle cybersecurity as a compliance box to tick for when regulators come knocking. Considering the high cost of breaches and the reputational damage firms suffer after breaches, it’s time to embrace cyber resilience. The approach gives an organization a firm digital backbone that goes beyond just security to a competitive advantage, and you can learn more about this here.
Shifting Mindset from Defense to Resilience
For many years, firms have been treating cybersecurity like a castle wall. Build it high, patch any cracks that may arise, and hope intruders don’t climb over.
However, today’s threats are much more complicated. They can easily slip through entry points you didn’t anticipate, such as security holes in third-party software you are using.
This means that you need more of a resilience mindset than a defensive one. Even with your prevention mechanisms in place, what happens if intruders still manage to gain access?
It involves going beyond ringfencing to building security into every process. Even when attackers manage to get the better of your systems, your processes shouldn’t grind to a halt.
Building a Resilient Security Infrastructure
Building resilience requires a comprehensive approach to security, from preventing attacks to getting back up and running after incidents.
Identity and Access Management
One of the best ways of preventing attacks is knowing who has access to what and when. This is especially important in law firms, as they are always watching and ensuring confidentiality.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) allows firms to give partners, associates, and staff access to the tools they need while also limiting their reach. This is done through multi-factor authentication, role-based access controls, and real-time monitoring.
For example, while associates can access most legal stuff, they don’t need access to sensitive M&A deal documents.
When you give access based on a user’s role, you reduce the “attack surface” significantly. So, even if a user falls victim to a phishing attack, the attacker won’t move across your systems.
Endpoint Detection and Response
Every laptop, smartphone, or desktop in your firm can be used by attackers as an entry point, so you need Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). Instead of just blocking viruses, these systems monitor suspicious patterns and act in real time.
This is important in law firms, as attorneys often work remotely, even using personal devices and public Wi-Fi for some tasks. When one of them is looking for an attachment, they can open a file that contains ransomware. An antivirus might miss the malicious code, but when it starts encrypting multiple files at once, the EDR will shut down the source before it expands across the network.
Email Security
Attackers know that most law firm communications happen via email, and the high email traffic makes it easy for personnel to fall victim to phishing attacks. Beyond spam filters, you need email security tools that can combine machine learning and behavioral analysis to block threats.
This should also go hand-in-hand with proper training that helps identify red flags and avoid phishing attacks.
Backup and Recovery Systems
You can’t create a zero-risk environment, so you need a safety net for when disaster strikes. The best way to achieve this is by having comprehensive backup and recovery systems that ensure you can always get back on your feet with minimal downtime. This way, even if you fall victim to ransomware, you can always clean up your system and pick up where you left off.
However, the quality of the backups also plays a huge role. You need to ensure that it’s redundant (on-premises and cloud), up-to-date, and encrypted. It should also be subject to regular tests to avoid surprises when you least need them.
Embedding Cyber Resilience into Daily Operations
Resilience isn’t a single project or something locked in the IT department, but part of the way an organization works every day. And to embed it into the culture, everybody in the firm needs to understand it. Regardless of their position, everybody has a role in protecting client data. For example, they should know that they need to verify unusual client requests, report suspicious emails, and secure file-sharing protocols.
You should also ensure that your incident response plans live with the people, not just on paper. Rehearse them periodically so that when something goes wrong, everybody knows what to do. This will help ensure that you protect client data and deliver consistently.
Mariah