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Law Firms Aren't Immune to Cybersecurity Risks

By Jason Straight

Although law firms have managed to remain off the list of the year's biggest data breach victims, firms watching cybersecurity trends most closely are feeling increasingly uneasy about their own security posture. Astute firms are looking to learn as they watch Target Corp., The Home Depot Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Sony Corp. and others struggle to manage an endless stream of news stories that damage their brands, massive disruptions to everyday business, and a significant strain on resources as organizations respond to legal claims, comply with requests for information from regulators, and scramble to bolster security systems in efforts to prevent further incidents.

Because law firms are routinely entrusted with large volumes of highly sensitive data under attorney-client privilege ' private personal information, trade secrets, mergers and acquisitions details, litigation strategy, intellectual property research, health care data and more ' it's only a matter a time before they face the same level of scrutiny of their security practices as do corporations. The risks firms face from inadequate information-security policies, procedures and technology are just as serious and far-reaching as those faced by their corporate clients, and hackers are likely to perceive firms as an easier target.

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