Insights | Systems Solution, Inc. (SSI)

Cyber Security: Keeping Hackers Out of Your Law Firm

Written by Madison Miner | Apr 14, 2023 1:45:00 PM

Hacking has become a severe problem for law firms. The threat of a hacker gaining access to your network and stealing sensitive data is accurate and can have devastating consequences for your firm. That's why it's so important to take the proper steps to prevent an attack from happening in the first place. 

Hackers are after your data. 

If you're a lawyer or have anything to do with the practice of law, you must understand what hackers want—the short answer: Your data. 

If they can get their hands on any data stored on your computer--even if it's just basic information like names, birthdays, and addresses--then they can use it for all kinds of nasty things. They might try to use that info for identity theft, steal money from clients' accounts, or even sell the confidential information back to other firms to help them win cases (or at least make sure those cases don't go against them). 

Why is cyber security critical? 

The lifeblood of your law firm is data. Your client's information, financial data, and even employees' personal information are all valuable assets to protect. Hackers want to steal this information for financial gain or simply because they can.  

They may also seek revenge against you or your clients by destroying the data they have stolen. The most dangerous scenario is when hackers blackmail you into paying them money to keep quiet about what they have done and not disclose it publicly (or worse). 

Hackers usually do not carry out these attacks themselves; they hire other people who know how to do so on their behalf - called "malware writers" or "black hats" - who create malicious software designed explicitly for stealing sensitive information from computers without being detected. 

How hackers get into your network 

Hackers can get into your network by exploiting security vulnerabilities. For example, if you don't update your software or use outdated hardware and operating systems, hackers can exploit these flaws to access your system. 

Hackers can also get into your computer by stealing or guessing passwords. If they know that you use the same password for everything--or that it's easy to imagine because of its length or pattern--then they'll try their luck at logging into one of those accounts first before moving on to others with more stringent requirements (such as two-factor authentication). 

Malware is another common way for hackers to gain access: malware is malicious software designed specifically for this purpose.  

It can be installed by visiting infected websites or clicking on links sent via email from unknown senders; once installed on a device (usually through an unwitting employee), the malware allows hackers complete control over its contents while remaining undetected by antivirus programs until after the damage has already been done.  

This may happen when someone downloads an app from an untrusted source like Google Play Store instead of Apple App Store because they think it will make things easier later down the road when updates need updating again - but this may cost them dearly in the future. 

What to look for in a cyber security service provider. 

When selecting a cyber security service provider, you want to look for one that offers a full range of services and has the experience to protect your data. You also want to ensure they have the resources and expertise to protect your sensitive information from hackers. 

  • Full range of services: It's vital that the company can provide all types of cyber security services, including managed detection and response, forensics investigations, incident response planning, and training programs for employees on how best to handle incidents when they happen (or at least refer them back up). They should also be able to help with any regulatory requirements within your industry (for example, HIPAA compliance). 
  • Experience protecting sensitive information: Your provider should have expertise protecting high-value data because this will give them insight into exactly what threats are most likely coming down the pike next - which makes them better equipped than others who have never dealt with these issues before (or worse yet - blindly follow what other companies say without doing any fundamental research themselves). 

Security features that every law firm needs. 

You may have heard that a firewall is essential to your cyber security. A firewall is a software or hardware system that controls data flow between your computer and the Internet. It's designed to keep hackers out but can also help prevent viruses from spreading through your network. 

A password protection program will help keep unauthorized people from accessing your law firm's information, files, and other assets online. You should also encrypt sensitive files on laptops or other portable devices, so they aren't accessible if someone steals them from you--or worse yet, gets into them when they're in use at home or in an airport lounge. 

All businesses- including law firms- must secure their systems against potential cyber threats further before something happens (and it will). The best way to protect yourself and others from hackers is by taking precautions early on when possible; this includes having strong passwords with letters rather than just numbers because most computer programs cannot easily decipher these types of combinations unless specifically told how by someone who knows what they are doing first hand. 

Protect your data against hackers by choosing a cyber security service provider with these features. 

  • Firewall. This is the first line of defense against hackers. It blocks unauthorized access to your firm's network, protecting it from viruses and malicious software. 
  • Password protection and encryption. These measures ensure that only authorized users can log into your firm's systems and files, protecting them from hackers trying to steal sensitive information such as confidential client information or intellectual property belonging to third parties (such as trade secrets). 
  • Cloud computing services provider--There are many good options available here, but make sure you're using one that provides strong encryption for all data stored on its servers so that even if someone were able to break into them, they wouldn't be able to access valuable anything without first decrypting it. 

Cyber security is critical for law firms because they handle sensitive information every day; if this gets into the wrong hands due to negligence on behalf of management, then there could be legal consequences resulting in huge losses both financially but also reputationally speaking because clients may feel unsafe working with an organization which does not adequately protect their data. 

Firewall 

A firewall is a network security system that allows or blocks data transmission between two networks. A firewall can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination. 

A firewall typically establishes a barrier between two networks and checks all traffic passing for signs of malicious activity.  

It prevents unauthorized access to the internal network from the Internet by controlling which devices may connect to it and what kind of information they can exchange with each other over these connections (for example, web browsing).  

You can achieve this by controlling when users are allowed access to certain websites or services (e.g., during business hours only) or which sites they're allowed access to (e.g., Facebook but not Twitter). Firewalls also help protect against DDoS attacks by blocking incoming traffic from suspicious sources like botnets. 

Password protection and encryption 

Password protection and encryption are two methods of protecting data that law firms can use. Password protection is setting a password on your computer or device so that no one else can access it, while encryption involves changing the data into a form that others cannot read. 

Encryption is crucial for law firms because it protects your sensitive information from hackers who may try to steal it.  

Encryption has been around since the 1970s. It only became widely adopted recently due to technological advances and its cost-effectiveness compared with other methods like firewalls or antivirus programs (which we'll discuss later). 

Encryption takes plaintext (the original form) and converts it into ciphertext (the encrypted version). This process involves using an algorithm--or set of rules--that turns letters into numbers before they're encoded onto storage media like hard drives or flash drives; when someone wants access again later on down the line, another set of rules converts those same numbers back into letters so they can be read once again without worry about anyone else gaining access during transit between locations either locally within one's networked environment online via email attachments. 

Cyber security is critical for law firms. 

Cyber security is a top priority for law firms. It's critical to your business's success and an essential component of how you operate. Cyber security has become an increasingly important topic in recent years, as companies across industries struggle with protecting their data from hackers. 

Lawyers have always been at risk of falling victim to cybercrime--the profession was ranked third highest on the list of most targeted occupations by hackers. With so much confidential information stored on your computer systems, there are plenty of opportunities for attackers who want access to sensitive data like client lists or financial records. As such, you must take steps before they get into trouble later. 

The continuing threat 

The threat of cyber security breaches is a constant one. Hackers are always looking for new ways to get into your network, steal data and cause damage to your business. They're also always looking for new ways to steal money from you--and if they can't do that through traditional means like credit card fraud or identity theft, then they may be tempted by less-than-legal methods like ransomware attacks or blackmailing clients. 

The complexity of the problem 

As you can see, cyber security is a complex problem. Hackers get better at breaking into networks, and there are many ways to break into a network. The situation is constantly evolving, and the threat is growing. 

The bottom line? Your law firm needs to be vigilant in its approach to cyber security because the threat is constantly changing. 

Need help keeping hackers out of your law firm? Contact SSI today. 

Contact SSI today if you need help keeping hackers out of your law firm. We are a leading cyber security service provider that offers a range of services to help law firms protect their data and prevent hackers from breaching their security.  

Our expert engineers have years of experience working with lawyers and other professionals in the legal industry to find solutions that fit their needs best--and we can do the same for you. 

If you're ready to learn more about how we can help keep hackers out of your firm, contact us online today. 

In summary 

We know it can be daunting to keep hackers out of your law firm, but we're here to help. We have the experience and expertise to protect your data from cyber attacks. If you have any questions about our services or need assistance choosing the right provider, contact us today.