Thursday, December 9, 2021

Cyber Security Issues Facing Canadian Law Firms

Why Cyber Security is More Important Than Ever For the Legal Industry

By: Sentia   Categories:Security, Cyber Security, Data Security

Cyber Security Issues Facing Canadian Law Firms

Cyber security breaches targeting Canadian organizations almost doubled in the recent past. Various sectors, including the Canadian legal industry, are thus required to enhance their data protection, and cyber security controls to protect their firms from attacks. Robust cyber security is vital in securing employee and customer data from known and unknown threats. In this regard, 90% of Canadian legal professionals believe their firms need to implement strong data protection and cyber security measures to secure sensitive information.

In addition, it is essential to note that attackers prioritize law firms as a prime target since they hold and process sensitive client information. Charles Volkert, Robert Half Legal's senior district president, states that "in the wrong hands, this valuable and confidential information could prove costly to any organization and cause irreparable damage to their brand and reputation, not to mention the fact that if a law firm loses a client's confidential data to an attack, it could face serious legal and ethics violations as well."

In light of this, a recent report found that most Canadian organizations, including law firms, are more prone to data breaches and attacks today. Furthermore, while the report found that most companies in the legal sector are strengthening their abilities to secure sensitive data, most clients are less confident that law firms are taking data security seriously. Specifically, the report revealed that 50% of clients believe that information security measures and controls today have reduced compared to a few years ago.
 

Top Cyber Security Challenges that Law Firms Face
 

1.Human Error

Human error is the leading cause of data breaches in the Canadian legal industry. Human errors can be accidental or intentional, but they pose a significant threat to sensitive client data integrity, availability, and confidentiality. For example, weak passwords expose law firms to brute-force and dictionary attacks. Also, failing to lock computers and laptops is a common mistake that can facilitate insider threat attacks or permit unauthorized individuals to access confidential information. In this case, law firms require to train associates, partners, and legal secretaries on the best practices for securing personal information.


2.Phishing Scams

Attackers connive to trick law firms into parting with lump sums of money or sensitive client information. Phishing techniques involve the use of text messages, phone calls, or emails that seem to originate from a trusted company or institution while they come from malicious imposters. For example, a phishing scam may target a law firm's employees by tricking them into updating or confirming specific account or personal data. Attackers can use the information to perform identity theft attacks or other financial scams for monetary gains. Since phishing attacks can target all lawyers and staff members, law firms should implement strong policies governing critical actions, such as financial transactions.


3.Inside Jobs

Insider threats continue to be a nuisance for most companies, and Canadian law firms are no exception. Most law companies associate fraudsters with online con artistes and malicious cyber actors, while even law clerks, partners, and associates may be at the core of a cybercrime scheme. Some factors that motivate inside jobs in law firms include blackmail, financial pressure, or other personal issues. In addition, inside jobs are difficult to identify and manage since the perpetrators often have authorized access to different information systems, databases, and extensive knowledge of a law firm's crucial data. Hence, Canadian law organizations require to perform random but frequent audits of all employees and their activities on company systems and client data.


Is Your Law Firm Prepared for a Cyber Attack?

Cyber security goes beyond preventing data breaches and extends to threat intelligence and timely cyber breach response. Essentially, detecting attempted cyberattacks is as critical as the need to identify and respond to a successful hack. Due to the ever-evolving attack techniques, it is simply not sufficient to prevent a cyber breach, but law firms also require a well-thought response plan. 


1.Understand Your Cyber security Environment

Cyber-attacks are among the most serious challenges facing the Canadian legal sector today. As a result of increasing data breaches and attacks, Canadian law companies need to understand their cybersecurity landscape and respond to attempted breaches effectively. Unsurprisingly,9 out of 10 Canadian legal professionals know the dire need for enhanced cybersecurity and agree that their firms need upgrading and enhancing cybersecurity measures to secure sensitive information. Besides, understanding your cybersecurity landscape demonstrates to employees and clients that your law firm is committed to protecting their data, which is vital to maintaining a strong reputation.


2.Acquire Expert Cyber Security Assistance

The rapid digital transformation in the Canadian legal industry has enabled law firms to leverage the benefits of modern technologies. At the same time, this has expanded the attack surface significantly as law firms now protect more endpoints and data than yesteryears. The complexities of increased technology use and an expanded attack surface require professional cybersecurity assistance. Expert cybersecurity help can enable law firms to perform extensive and deep risk assessments, detect and mitigate network vulnerabilities, assess third parties' cybersecurity posture and preparedness, and advise on the latest cybersecurity trends and innovations.


Outsourcing Your Cyber Security Needs to Sentia

Outsourcing your law firm's cyber security requirements unlocks access to various industry-standard solutions designed to secure your firm against the current cyber threat landscape. The cyber security services include enterprise network security, where Sentia can assist your law firm in safeguarding IT networks. In addition, Sentia's secure network solutions provide complete visibility of all network activities to ensure timely threat and attack detection.

In addition, compliance consulting ensures that your law firm complies with all regulatory standards and requirements. Essentially, this is by providing full visibility into your IT deployments to proactively ascertain that your law firm meets all compliance needs. In this case, Sentia offers coordination, consulting, and auditing services for all compliance standards.

Your law firm can also benefit from Sentia's cybersecurity consulting services to ensure your law firm remains current on all cybersecurity trends. Managed cybersecurity services also provide access to state-of-the-art cybersecurity solutions and certified experts at an affordable cost. With cyber threats evolving alarmingly, organizations in the Canadian legal industry require Sentia's solutions and services to protect critical data and assets from attacks.

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Sentia
Sentia

Sentia

We are a high-value, trusted, Canadian IT solutions provider dedicated to delivering secure and reliable IT solutions across a wide variety of industries. We are committed to helping our customers meet and optimize their business goals.

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