The 7-Step Checklist To Protect Your Law Firm's Data

The analog days vanished years ago. Gone are the overstuffed folders, large filing cabinets, and mountains of paper documents.

The digital world arrived, and it’s here to stay. There’s no turning back, but that’s a good thing, especially with the benefits of technology advancements.

The Danger of The Digital World

However, the digital path carries risks. Challenges appear with ever-changing equipment, learning curves, and compliance issues.

But there’s also the danger of criminals.

Hackers look at legal organizations and lick their lips. Law firms hold a treasure trove of data, including intellectual property, personally identifiable information, and private attorney-client info.

Criminals will do anything to weave their way into your system and steal your files.

This can result in:

  • Failure to access your data because of ransomware

  • The demand of a large payment to regain access

  • Leaks of personal and business data

  • Compromised email accounts

  • Damaged agency reputation

  • Allegations and legal issues

To protect your firm requires both an ongoing knowledge of threats and a strong IT plan.

The 7-Step Law Firm IT Checklist

1. Create an IT security policy

  • Does you have an easy-to-follow data security plan?

  • Is it shared with everyone at the firm?

2. Train your staff on cyber security risks

  • Do you offer training for new employees?

  • Is training offered periodically?

3. Limit access

  • Are you intentional about who can view specific data?

  • Do you ensure former employees no longer have access?

4. Update security software

  • Have you patched any security holes?

  • Are you protecting critical information?

5. Audit your network regularly

  • Is your equipment up-to-date?

  • Have you checked authentication requirements and security layers?

6. Plan for an emergency

  • Do you know what to do in case of a data breach?

  • Do you regularly test the plan?

7. Backup your firm’s data

  • Do you back up your data to a secure location?

  • How often do you back it up?

Here’s the hard truth: most law firms are too busy to think through their cyber security issues. This leaves the firm, its equipment, and all stored data vulnerable to criminals.

Your Cyber Security Experts

At Layer9, we’re your IT experts. We monitor your hardware and software while keeping you up-to-date on threats. Our expert team reacts quickly and decisively against any detected issues.

A weak network will hold your law firm back. But we’ll help you build a reliable infrastructure, avoid downtimes, and protect your information.

To get started, SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATION BY CALLING 757-644-3291 OR BY FILLING OUT THIS SIMPLE FORM.

Brian ForresterLayer9Law firms, IT, Cybersecurity