Small to midsize law firms have been increasingly targeted for cyberattacks. Hackers know that smaller companies are less likely than their larger counterparts to have sophisticated security protocols in place, and that law firm data is particularly valuable. The confidential nature of attorney-client relationships gives lawyers added motivation to pay a ransom to recover their sensitive data, which is not lost on bad actors. In fact, 24.9% of all ransomware attacks in 1Q 2021 targeted professional services firms, especially small and midsize law firms, according to Coveware. 

Cybersecurity attacks continue to rise, and law firms of all sizes have become a prime target. According to Coveware, 24.9% of all ransomware attacks in Q1 2021 targeted professional services firms, especially small and midsize law firms. With the surge in cyberattacks, firms have begun to shift how their IT is managed, with an increase in the use of managed IT services versus in-house IT professionals.

Many companies have emerged from the pandemic with plans to maintain a hybrid work model going forward. This model allows companies to enjoy the communication, brainstorming, and hands-on management benefits of in-person collaboration while still being able to offer employees the perk of working from home a couple times a week, which cuts their commuting costs and improves work/life balance. But while the hybrid model may be the best of both worlds, companies must take steps to ensure that their flexible work environment does not make them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. 

We’ve talked a lot recently about the growing cybersecurity threats that small to midsize firms face as the sheer volume of attempted attacks grow in numbers and sophistication. It is important to make sure our systems are as safe and secure as possible. Here are 2 simple ways to get started: passwords and multi-factor authentication.

The pandemic caused a paradigm shift toward remote and hybrid work environments, and law firms are no exception. In a 2021 survey by Bloomberg Law, 40% of attorneys reported their firms allowed complete flexibility regarding their work environment. Only a quarter of respondents said they were expected to be in the office at least 3 days a week, and only 1 in 10 said their in-office presence was expected full-time. If lawyer preferences are any indication, these trends are likely to continue. Only 11% of lawyers surveyed said they would prefer to be in the office full-time, and only a quarter said they wanted to be in the office 3 or 4 days a week. 

At the onset of the pandemic, there was an immediate shift to remote work. More than 2 years later, this has morphed into widespread adoption of hybrid work environments. Not surprisingly, a recent report from Accenture found that the spike in remote work resulted in more growth of laptops and notebooks than desktops. But no matter what device they use, people must be able to work from home in the same way they can work in the office.

In this webinar, our panel discussed the many advantages law firms experience when using the SaaS solution NetDocuments for their document and email management.

Hybrid work arrangements have become the new normal. But while offering many advantages, schedules that involve working remotely one day and in the office the next present unique technology challenges that can inconvenience and frustrate employees while compromising productivity and company security. Below are some of the common technology hiccups that arise and solutions to help you transition seamlessly from home to work and back again.