Last month, the legal industry was front and center in the global struggle for cybersecurity when it was revealed that Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca was the victim of a massive data breach. Over 11 million files were obtained in the leak, most of which detailed the offshore financial activities of Mossack Fonseca’s clientele—some of the world’s wealthiest corporations and individuals.

As most newsworthy hacks to have been targeted at healthcare, finance and government entities, the legal industry may seem to have arrived late to the data breach game, but make no mistake about it: law firms have long been targeted by hackers.

Research, in fact, shows that one in four law firms with at least 100 attorneys have experienced a data breach. And almost half of attorneys claim that their legal firms have no data breach response plans.

It’s time to take action to reduce the likelihood of a data breach occurring at your law firm. One of the best ways to do this is to undergo a cybersecurity certification audit from a third-party computer consultant like Apex Technology Services.

Here are three reasons to consider receiving cybersecurity certification: 

1. Gain peace of mind: Look—we’re no longer dealing with the same type of malware that first hit the Web in the 1990s. Today’s malware is much more sinister. Consider ransomware, for instance, a type of malware that, once embedded into a computer, will hold your files until a hefty fee is paid. In many cases, even paying the fee won’t get the data back. One of the only ways to truly deal with ransomware is to back up your files regularly so your data can’t effectively be held hostage. Cybersecurity certification will provide you with a detailed checklist of action steps to make your network secure. If your network meets the stringent requirements for certification, you will know that your business is doing everything possible to stay protected. If not, you’ll understand what needs to be done.

2. Show customers that their data is secure: In light of the Panama Papers incident, privacy is now top of mind for customers. When a customer approaches your business, that person or company will want to know you are taking all the proper precautions to ensure their data is safe from hackers. Cybersecurity certification  proves that your business is up to date with the most stringent protocols. As a result, you may be able to influence their opinion that your firm can be trusted.

3. Land government contracts: The federal government is now cracking down on cybersecurity. Recently, the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council and Civilian Agency Acquisition Council jointly released a new rule that requires a minimum level of data security for contractors who handle sensitive federal data. This rule will be applied to any entity that handles private government data. Keep in mind that even if you don’t deal directly with the federal government, some of your clients may. Receiving cybersecurity compliance will show that your business is committed to actively monitoring and protecting its core infrastructure, and that it is capable of managing sensitive material. 

To get started, click here.

A new breed of hacktrepeneurs has awoken and they have little to fear and everything to gain by infecting as many companies as possible and extorting money from them. Apex Technology Services stands ready to protect your company regardless of whether it’s located in New York City, White Plains, Connecticut, Australia, Europe or anywhere else. Our full suite of cybersecurity and IT support services is at your disposal so you can spend less time worrying and more time growing your business.

In addition, our new Cybersecurity Compliance Certification for law firms will help keep your firm from becoming the next Panama Papers victim. This baseline cybersecurity audit for the legal industry should be considered seriously by all firms.