Most legal practitioners define success as achieving the most for their clients, getting new business, and remaining updated on recent legal changes. However, as the digital era progresses and becomes more sophisticated, even the most experienced lawyers may fall short regarding data protection and online security. The size of the organization and the data sensitivity often determine the complete scope of a company’s security requirements. This blog will show you how to take some simple beginning measures toward making your law firm more secure. It starts with recognizing potential hazards and taking actions to avoid them.
Impact of Data Breaches on Lawyers
It is not news that high-profile data breaches are making front-page news more frequently now than ever. Furthermore, the figure is likely to be far higher because lesser violations go unnoticed by the authorities. Security concerns can affect almost any company or organization. Due to the abundance of private and commercial customer data, the risks for law firms can be substantially higher. Additionally, a single leak can damage a client’s trust in their advice and permanently tarnish an organization’s reputation. In other words, data breaches in legal companies can cost a lawyer a lot more than just money. With this in consideration, lawyers and law firms should regularly examine and improve their online security policies.
Tips to Improve Online Security for the Modern Lawyer
Here are a few great ways to improve online security for modern lawyers:
Set Strong Passwords
Setting a strong password is the most integral approach towards online security against hackers attempting to steal sensitive information and emails. Different combinations of uppercase and lowercase characters, digits, and symbols are useful in passwords. NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) states that passwords must be at least eight characters long and must not contain keywords, repeating or sequential letters, or jargon like a pet name, spouse name, service name, username, or variants thereof. According to studies, if a password reaches more than 12 characters, it becomes tough to crack.
Also, avoid sharing passwords with anyone or using the same one for several apps and websites. If a password is taken, all of your passwords are at risk. A password manager can help you with this. Password managers are safe places to keep login details, and they make it easy to keep records of everything. The idea is to limit the amount of harm you suffer if you are hacked. Dashlane, LastPass, and 1Password are a few of the many applications available.
Avoid SIM Swap
Among the most common sorts of theft nowadays is SIM changing. Criminals can use this strategy to persuade a victim’s mobile phone provider to transfer a phone number to their new SIM card. The attacker then acts as the target and requests that the hacked device get account password recovery instructions or OTPs. Consequently, the attacker can reset the perpetrator’s login details and hack into their account. Lawyers can face grave consequences of SIM swap. Therefore, they need to take extra security precautions to stay safe from SIM swap attacks. Efani provides guaranteed SIM swap protection to lawyers and high profile clients. Getting Efani’s subscription reduces the possibility of SIM swap to none.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is another approach to online security. It is likely that you have used it previously but were unaware of it. The standard paradigm for authentication mechanisms, as per the NIST, specifies three components as the pillars of authentication:
- Something you know (a password)
- Something you have (a token, an ID badge or a cryptographic key)
- Something you know (a password)
Multi-factor authentication refers to the use of more than one of these three archetypal authentication mechanisms. If you have ever entered into an account, you have employed multi-factor authentication and prompted a security question, such as mother’s maiden name, pet name, high school name, etc. Consider it like opening your safe with a combination and then opening a box inside with a key.
Beware of Phishing
Phishing is the process of sending spam emails looking like a legitimate one to encourage the victim to spearfishing is much more targeted than phishing, which targets a more extensive reach. Inside a firm, spearfishing attempts will target specific staff or people. The hackers can carry out their targeted invasion when the victims open the malicious email with an attachment or a link.
Employees must be trained in various phishing strategies because spearfishing is more a product of human error than system glitches. Being on the lookout for emails with spelling errors, uncommon terminology, or unique file types can save your company a lot of time and money in the long run. Share information like login credentials and other personal information.
Cyber Insurance
Cyber insurance could be a part of a comprehensive data security strategy. By 2025, this business is expected to be worth about $30 billion. According to a poll conducted by the ABA (American Bar Association), nearly a quarter of legal companies with 500 or more workers have suffered a cybersecurity incident. Getting cybersecurity insurance will not secure you but will reduce the damage. It isn’t part of professional liability coverage, and keep in mind any pre-existing cybersecurity issues that haven’t been detected yet. However, keep in mind that cyber insurance must be employed in combination with, not as a substitute for, your company’s cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Getting and giving adequate cybersecurity training to lawyers and other staff in legal firms reduce the chances of cyberattacks much lower and readiness to respond and secure from such attacks higher. A variety of published documents is accessible to keep the masses informed on the newest modifications to information security standards, with the primary goal of reducing and eliminating cyber threats. Law businesses are particularly vulnerable to cyber-attacks because they hold sensitive and critical data for malicious hackers. Security awareness is essential for efficient security. Users who are not taught or do not grasp the concerns and the appropriate security regulations will not provide adequate protection.
