In a recent survey conducted by Above the Law in collaboration with iManage, distinct differences emerged between the perceptions of practicing attorneys and their IT teams in regard to cybersecurity strategies.
The report — which can be downloaded here — reflects a unique diversity in how cybersecurity is approached, mostly between law firm partners and their IT staff.
At the core of these differing viewpoints is the weight placed on certain preventative measures. The law firm partners and counsel favored the monitoring of user activity as an important strategy in detecting unusual behavior that might pose a risk. On a scale of 1 to 5, this measure was rated 4.0. Conversely, the IT staff gave it a lower importance, rating it just 3.0, and indicated a preference for antivirus and malware protection strategies.
Another interesting factor thrown up by the survey is the changing attitudes towards security in a world increasingly embracing remote and hybrid work practices, especially for associates. As interactions move online, law firms have had to address challenges posed by attorneys using unsecured home networks.
The report also delves into client perspectives, suggesting that clients are well aware of potential risks that come with online legal work. It notes a trend that security-conscious clients are more inclined to perceive larger law firms as having more robust cybersecurity measures compared to their midsize or smaller counterparts – an advantage that most of the survey’s respondents agreed upon.
Notably, the cost of beefing up cybersecurity emerged as a major concern among survey participants. Nearly 37% of survey takers viewed cost as the primary obstacle to addressing security challenges. Close on its heels is the daunting task of transitioning away from legacy systems to install newer, more secure ones.
Indeed, the importance of cybersecurity in today’s digital landscape cannot be underestimated, and this survey presents a valuable picture of how it is being addressed from different angles within the legal industry.