With technology constantly evolving, problems can arise if your law firm fails to keep pace with the changes. The consequences of antiquated technology can adversely impact a law firm’s bottom line in multiple ways, from inefficiency and security concerns to dissatisfied clients and staff. Here are five signs that your firm’s technology may need attention. 

Small to midsize firms lack the resources of larger enterprises, but still have the enterprise-size IT needs and security requirements. Whether you’re a firm with a small in-house IT team or no IT team at all, everyone relies so heavily on technology that it is essential not to take any shortcuts. With limited resources, the best way for small to midsize enterprises (SMEs) to build, optimize, support, and defend their technology and infrastructure is by working with a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP). Here are 5 reasons to consider partnering with an MSP to ease the IT burdens your firm faces.

Desktop as a Service (Daas) is a cloud-based service in which virtual desktops are streamed to end users over the internet. DaaS has many benefits for companies. Because it is typically licensed on a per-user basis, it can easily be scaled up or down depending on the firm’s needs. It also securely allows for a flexible work environment and a “BYOD” policy, permitting users to safely log in from any location and any device they choose, such as a laptop, desktop, thin client, smartphone, or tablet. Before you consider choosing a DaaS provider, here are five factors to consider.

Law firms are a prime target of cybersecurity attacks because they deal with confidential data, and many do not have the proper security protocols in place. An October 2020 report from the American Bar Association shows that the number of firms who experienced a security breach (such as a lost/stolen computer or smartphone, hacker, break-in, or website exploit) increased over the prior year: 29% of respondents compared to 26% in 2019. One of the most costly forms of a cybersecurity attack in terms of time and resources is ransomware. Let us explore what ransomware is and how to protect your firm.

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. 

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. 

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

Phishing remains one of the most common types of data breaches and often leads to a ransomware attack. When ransomware hits your IT, all or substantial parts of your IT will stop functioning and your data becomes compromised. The only way to bring your systems back online is to restore from backup or to “pay the piper,” the cybercriminal, their ransom. While ransoms of the past were in the thousands, they are now typically hundreds of thousands or even millions! In a worst-case scenario, there will be operating losses due to interruption of services when restoring and rebuilding your systems. The other main results of phishing are the stealing of personal or confidential business information, as well as the hijacking of a person’s mailbox, to deliver false instructions to illicit a payment to the cybercriminal.