A recent, well-publicised cyber incident, the December 2023 cyberattack on law firms, brought at least 80 legal firms across the UK to a standstill. It cost solicitors untold losses in time they couldn’t bill. Conveyancers and estate agents couldn’t collect fees while homeowners cancelled their moving plans. The repercussions were felt far and wide, with clients experiencing delays and data loss. It highlighted the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.
The legal sector cyberattacks occurred when managed IT services provider CTS suffered a service outage. It reportedly stopped law firms and chambers from accessing their case management systems.
Cyberattacks are increasing in number and sophistication across all sectors. According to the UK government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey, British companies experienced almost 2.4 million cyber-attacks in the past year. They estimate that 11% of businesses have been victims of cybercrime during this period. This accounts for 159,000 businesses.
Astonishing as it might seem when we find ourselves so directly and adversely affected, attacks like these happen to businesses every day. It’s our job to limit the risk of such an attack affecting our clients and their customers.
The December 2023 cyberattack on law firms is just one example of the severity of these sophisticated attacks and the lasting impact they have on both income and reputation. Cybercrime is on the rise in every sector. Our CEO, Jim Simpson’s recently published guide, 9 Essential Strategies to Protect Your Business from Cyber Attack emphasises the importance of proactive cybersecurity strategies to safeguard businesses against cyber threats. In his comprehensive guide, he outlines nine essential strategies to bolster your cybersecurity posture and mitigate the risks associated with cyberattacks.
The 9 Essential Strategies included in this guide might have prevented this attack and they will improve your firm’s future security. It will also help you thrive by harnessing advanced technology, improving productivity and increasing capacity. Let’s take a closer look at the top three ways your IT team can reduce your risk of breach or attack:
With cyber-attacks almost inevitable, you must have a well-tested process in place to swiftly respond to breaches. This includes shutting down attacks, removing infections, and recovering fast to minimise disruptions.
A robust backup and recovery system is crucial to recover data swiftly if a breach should occur. We recommend cloud-based backup solutions that cover all aspects of the firm’s infrastructure, ensuring minimal data loss and downtime.
Choosing a secure infrastructure, such as the Microsoft or Amazon Web Services cloud, can significantly enhance your defences against cyber threats. Modern cloud environments offer robust security measures and flexibility, enabling secure remote access to applications and data. If you are currently running on a Citrix infrastructure, you can find out more about the risks you might be exposed to and why businesses are moving from Citrix to Microsoft Azure here.
For the complete guide including further information on:
Download your free copy of Jim’s full guide here.
By implementing these nine essential strategies, you might avoid being caught up in events like the December 2023 cyberattack on law firms. You will definitely enhance your cybersecurity posture, minimise disruptions, and safeguard sensitive client data. For more information or personalised guidance on cybersecurity for your business, you can contact Jim Simpson directly at [email protected] or by phone at 0203 981 0862.
