News

Cyber-crime is a serious and growing issue, costing the UK economy an estimated £27 billion through system recovery, lost productivity and reputational damage.   

Law firms, which handle highly sensitive client information, have become increasingly attractive targets.  In the past year alone, cyber-attacks on the legal sector have risen by 77%.

This increase in phishing scams, ransomware attacks and data breaches has led The Law Society to issue urgent warnings, reinforcing the need for stronger cybersecurity measures.   The impact of a cyber-attack is not just financial, it compromises client trust, damages reputation and can result in regulatory consequences, which is why ironclad cybersecurity is no longer optional.

A recent Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal case illustrates just how easily legal professionals can fall victim to cyber-crime:

A highly experienced solicitor was fined £26,000 after unknowingly transferring over £290,000 to a hacker.  While handling a property sale for a local company, the solicitor’s email correspondence with their client was intercepted in a targeted cyber-attack.

Just before completion, the solicitor received an email, almost identical to the client’s usual address, requesting a change in bank details for the transaction.  The solicitor initially requested telephone confirmation, but a follow-up email reassured them that the new instructions were correct.  Relying on this, they proceeded with the transfer.

It was only when the bank flagged concerns nearly two weeks later that the fraud was uncovered.   The client confirmed they had never received the funds.  Despite the bank’s warning, the solicitor delayed reporting the incident to regulators for three months, by which time insurers had covered the loss.

This case highlights the sophistication of modern cyber-crime and emphasises the need for security measures of the highest standard, greater staff training and awareness and ongoing managed support.

At David Allen IT Solutions, we understand the unique cybersecurity challenges facing legal firms.   We work closely with solicitors and law firms, providing tailored security solutions that protect your data and your clients.

Our highly knowledge team of technicians and consultants can offer staff training and awareness, ongoing security monitoring, advanced threat protection, secure data encryption and incident response, onsite and offsite backup solutions and incident recovery support.

As a managed service provider (MSP), we can provide tomorrow’s solutions today by ensuring all your devices are fully protected with industry leading security solutions including antivirus and anti-malware protection, email anti-phishing and spam protection solutions, Security Operations Centre (SOC) services and device encryption along with helping to implement clear security policies and train staff to recognise risks.

Providing Cyber Essentials, and Cyber Essentials Plus certifications helps to support businesses in achieving accreditation and demonstrating a commitment to best practices in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.