# What does ‘good’ look like for legal sector IT security?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-12-19
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: Choosing the Right Cyber Security Approach for Law Firms
Meta Description: Discover how legal firms can protect sensitive data and reduce cyber risk with the right security measures and talent in place. Don't risk breaches!
URL: https://financedigest.com/what-does-good-look-like-for-legal-sector-it-securityhtml

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_By_ **_John Wareing,_** _Legal Security Consultant, Red Helix_

The legal sector has seen rapid digitalisation over recent years, partly driven by the remote working forced upon legal staff during the pandemic and partly due to the efficiencies enabled by new technologies. Firms are continuing to reduce their reliance on working with local networks and using hard copy documents, [moving to cloud-based](https://www.financedigest.com/vias-cloud-based-solutions-ensure-painless-office-move-for-insurance-body.html "VIA’S CLOUD-BASED SOLUTIONS ENSURE PAINLESS OFFICE MOVE FOR INSURANCE BODY"), mobile technologies and CRM systems that grant more flexibility and additional capabilities to increase productivity, attract new staff and win more clients.

However, due to the nature of the work and sensitive data it deals with, there is a high level of risk that comes with the legal [sector utilising technology](https://www.financedigest.com/why-its-time-to-centralise-public-sector-technology.html "Why it’s time to centralise public sector technology"). Law firms are a prime target for cyber criminals and as more devices and digital tech [expand the threat](https://www.financedigest.com/forescout-and-fireeye-expand-partnership-enabling-faster-response-to-cybersecurity-threats.html "FORESCOUT AND FIREEYE EXPAND PARTNERSHIP, ENABLING FASTER RESPONSE TO CYBERSECURITY THREATS") landscape across the sector, cyber risk remains a key concern. This is evidenced in PwC’s 2022 law firms’ survey, which [revealed that 78% of the Top](https://www.financedigest.com/revealed-the-top-5-places-brits-expect-to-find-the-one-in-2016.html "REVEALED: THE TOP 5 PLACES BRITS EXPECT TO FIND ‘THE ONE’ IN 2016") 100 law firms indicated cyber risk as something they are extremely or somewhat concerned about.

The legal sector has also been heavily affected by the talent shortage brought about by the pandemic, with [45% of firms citing retention as their biggest challenge](https://www.financedigest.com/youtube-in-challenge-to-tiktok-to-give-shorts-creators-45-of-ad-sales.html "YouTube in challenge to TikTok to give Shorts creators 45% of ad sales") during this period. While offering a good salary and work/life balance go a long way in retaining employees, there has been a growing focus on the security of an organisation. Legal professionals are not only including [security and risk](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-to-warn-of-data-privacy-risk-from-car-security-cameras-in-germany.html "Tesla to warn of data privacy risk from car security cameras in Germany") in their decisions to join a firm, but documented attacks may also provide them with a reason to leave, shown by a recent report which found half of staff might quit following a cyber attack.

As [cyber criminals continue to evolve their tactics alongside the technological advances](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-morgan-advanced-materials-reports-cyber-security-incident-on-its-network.html "UK’s Morgan Advanced Materials reports cyber security incident on its network") in the industry, the sector’s cyber response also needs to evolve, taking a proactive response to security. Law firms must ensure they not only _have_ cyber security protection and training in place, but that the security estate they are using is fit for purpose and they have the right talent to manage it – or else risk breaches, which can lead to huge financial, reputational and personnel losses.

**A security estate that is fit for purpose**

[Knowing what security](https://www.financedigest.com/application-security-in-the-finance-industry-what-you-should-know.html "Application Security in the Finance Industry: What You Should Know") is right for your firm is easier said than done. As industries across the board have become ever more reliant on digital ways of working, [cyber security](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-handle-cyber-security-during-mergers-and-acquisitions.html "How to Handle Cyber Security during Mergers and Acquisitions") itself has become an increasingly noisy space, with a current market value of over $150 billion worldwide. With the expansive list of different options to chose from, how do you know which [cyber security](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-cyber-security.html "THE FUTURE OF CYBER SECURITY") approach will be right for you?

The first thing to remember is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Different law firms operate within different environments, using a wide array of systems, which will require different types of protection, and there are companies that can help you identify and [address your security](https://www.financedigest.com/infosecurity-europe-agenda-spotlights-innovation-as-security-leaders-address-cybersecurity-spend-in-the-face-of-economic-headwinds.html "Infosecurity Europe agenda spotlights innovation as security leaders address cybersecurity spend in the face of economic headwinds") priorities.

While there are cyber security basics that should be in place for all firms – such as endpoint protection, threat detection and response, and zero trust network access – the only [way to know the effectiveness of your current system is to regularly test](https://www.financedigest.com/in-shanghai-lockdown-blues-make-way-for-covid-testing-gripes.html "In Shanghai, lockdown blues make way for COVID testing gripes") your environment against real threats. In doing so, you can find and address any [gaps in your security](https://www.financedigest.com/managing-the-hidden-security-gap-in-financial-services-the-office-printer.html "MANAGING THE HIDDEN SECURITY GAP IN FINANCIAL SERVICES: THE OFFICE PRINTER") estate – before they s are found and exploited by hackers.

The same applies to cyber awareness training for your staff. With the threat landscape continuing to grow, providing a one-off or annual training session [isn’t enough](https://www.financedigest.com/the-challenge-of-keeping-data-secure-why-in-house-security-isnt-enough.html "The challenge of keeping data secure: why in-house security isn’t enough") to fully protect your organisation. Instead, regular awareness testing needs to be conducted to identify any gaps in your employees’ knowledge, followed by regular training to keep up to date with the latest threats.

**[Cyber regulations](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-introduces-new-cyber-solution-in-response-to-eu-regulation-on-data-protection.html "Aon introduces new cyber solution in response to EU regulation on data protection") in the legal sector**

Another point to consider in achieving a high standard of cyber [security in the legal sector](https://www.financedigest.com/the-financial-sector-must-act-to-tackle-internal-data-security.html "THE FINANCIAL SECTOR MUST ACT TO TACKLE INTERNAL DATA SECURITY") is the increase in government regulations. New laws have been proposed to strengthen cyber resilience in the UK, and while these have been mainly targeted towards ensuring external providers [meet a required](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-collaboration-and-skills-shortage-is-limiting-organisations-ability-to-meet-ifrs-9-requirements.html "Lack of collaboration and skills shortage is limiting organisations’ ability to meet IFRS 9 requirements") standard, there are also growing levels of legislation across other industries.

The EU [financial services sector](https://www.financedigest.com/overcoming-information-overload-in-the-financial-sector.html "OVERCOMING INFORMATION OVERLOAD IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR") will soon see the introduction of the Digital Operational Resilience Act, with the UK already hinting at an equivalent bill to protect financial services in the country. Additionally, the telecommunications [industry has also been presented with new regulations](https://www.financedigest.com/how-solvency-ii-transformed-itself-the-fund-industry-and-regulation.html "How Solvency II transformed itself, the fund industry and regulation") under the Telecommunications Security Act.

With both of these targeting industries crucial to the UK infrastructure, it is only a matter of time before further legislation is directed towards the legal sector. There is already a directive for all [businesses to meet the criteria of a digital](https://www.financedigest.com/be-the-digital-eyes-and-ears-of-your-business-from-anywhere-in-the-world.html "Be the digital eyes and ears of your business – from anywhere in the world!") I.D. and trust framework, as well as large [fines for companies](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-to-fine-tech-companies-that-fail-to-remove-self-harm-material.html "UK to fine tech companies that fail to remove self-harm material") that are subjected to a data breach. With more regulations likely to be introduced, firms [need to ensure their security is up to standard](https://www.financedigest.com/why-preparation-for-new-swift-cyber-security-standards-needs-to-start-now.html "‘Why preparation for new SWIFT cyber security standards needs to start now’") in advance.

Not only will [testing your cyber security model ensure](https://www.financedigest.com/ensuring-traders-pass-the-test-of-mifid-ii-and-mar.html "Ensuring traders pass the test of MiFID II and MAR") you are prepared for any mandatory requirements that hit legal services in the future, but being able to demonstrate your security performance envelope will also help secure work with international partners that already have strict regulations to adhere to, as well as supporting compliance with growing cyber insurance checklists.

**Secure now and ready for the future**

The growing digitalisation of the legal sector is undoubtably something that should be celebrated, [driving efficiency](https://www.financedigest.com/iforces-route-genie-to-drive-efficient-carrier-management-for-freestylextreme.html "IFORCE’S ROUTE GENIE TO DRIVE EFFICIENT CARRIER MANAGEMENT FOR FREESTYLEXTREME"), productivity and allowing for new ways of working. It does, however, bring increased risk to an already heavily targeted industry meaning [cyber security measures need to be particularly strong within legal organisations](https://www.financedigest.com/cyber-threats-for-finance-organisations-to-watch-in-2023.html "Cyber threats for finance organisations to watch in 2023").

To ensure strength, firms need to regularly [test and assess the level](https://www.financedigest.com/fime-launches-the-next-generationof-its-emv-level-3-test-platform.html "FIME launches the next generationof its EMV Level 3 test platform") of security provided across their full environment, including all systems and devices. It is also imperative to provide regular training and assessment of staff’s cyber awareness, to avoid [falling victim to attacks that target](https://www.financedigest.com/julius-baer-2022-profits-fall-as-it-hits-business-cycle-targets.html "Julius Baer 2022 profits fall as it hits business cycle targets") the human factor.

By committing to regular testing, your organisation can continue to tune its security maturity, [protecting it and complying with any future](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-wealth-for-future-generations.html "5 Ways to Protect Your Wealth for Future Generations") legislation. Only then can your [cyber security posture evolve with the threat](https://www.financedigest.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-company-from-cyber-security-threats.html "5 Ways to Protect Your Company From Cyber Security Threats") landscape instead of just  ticking a box, helping you to win and retain clients and staff for the long-term.


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