Law firms are custodians of some of the most sensitive information. These may include confidential client data, intellectual property, or corporate records. People with bad intentions always seek to steal or purchase information from data brokers.
As the risk of cyber threats grows in complexity, keeping this data secure is becoming a legal requirement. Hence, most law firms seek reliable data broker removal services to help them remove their data from brokers’ databases.
Most firms know keeping data secure is important, but few have a coherent plan. So, what else can law firms do to secure their data?
Ways Law Firms Can Keep Their Data Safe
1. Understand the Unique Data Security Needs of Your Law Firms
Law firms work with sensitive data, case details, personal information, financial records, and so on. Given this complexity, general cybersecurity measures often fall short.
The traditional approach to security simply does not work for law firms; rather, they need their own tailored approach, where the protection of client information is paramount.
Knowing what data needs to be secure is vital to a company’s data security strategy. Law firms can formulate a security strategy only after figuring out the different types of data they work with daily.
2. Use Secure Data Removal Tools
At times, the sensitive data of clients are sold by data brokers, therefore endangering the firm and its clients. This is why removing sensitive information from data brokers is important. Luckily, we have automated data removal tools like Incogni.
The tool helps people remove personal information from these brokers’ databases, enhancing privacy and reducing the risk of data misuse. Although deleting data from brokers alone is not a solution against hacking, it is a solid layer that will bolster protections for individual users.
3. Implement Strong Access Controls
All employees do not require access to every document. Restricted access to sensitive information lessens the chances of exposing data inappropriately.
Many companies use role-based access controls (RBAC), which limit data access based on a person’s role in the company.
This reduces the risk of unintentional data leaks or purposeful data misuse by restricting access so employees can only access the data they need to do their jobs.
4. Invest in Regular Employee Training
Cyber is equally about tech as it is about behavior. Human error is responsible for a large number of data breaches. Phishing, bad passwords, and lost devices can all compromise security.
Training employees regularly can keep your workplace aware of threats and up-to-date on data security best practices.
A good training program should discuss identifying phishing attempts, securing mobile devices, and accessing firm networks securely over the Internet.
The employees should also be informed about the necessity of MFA (multi-factor authentication) and encouraged to use it if possible. This enables businesses to reduce risks emerging from conventional cyber security threats.
5. Ensure Compliance with Data Security Regulations
Compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or the California Consumer Privacy Act also lowers the likelihood of a data breach. Minimum standards are set for data handlers to adhere to to ensure the security of their clients’ data.
Audits conducted regularly ensure that law firms can keep track of these compliance requirements. Finally, proper data protection compliance can help build trust with your clients by proving that you take their information seriously.
6. Use Reliable Encryption Methods for Data Storage and Transfer
Encryption is an extremely useful tool for keeping information safe at storage and when it is in transit. It encrypts the data so only people with the proper decryption key can read it.
Encryption also needs to be used by law firms to protect files stored on local servers and shared via email accounts or other digital platforms.
For instance, encrypted cloud storage solutions can protect sensitive data from being accessed by unauthorized parties, even if it gets intercepted during transmission. Many firms also pay for email encryption for both sides to secure communication between clients and lawyers.
7. Consider Cybersecurity Insurance
Cybersecurity insurance policies help cover the costs of data recovery and even litigation when sensitive information is compromised.
In such contexts, insurance against cyber-attacks will be particularly important for companies operating large volumes of digital data or high-profile clients.
While not a substitute for cybersecurity practices, cybersecurity insurance effectively protects businesses from the financial impacts of a possible data breach.
8. Create a Data Breach Response Plan
A clear, defined data breach response plan allows a firm to respond quickly once a security incident occurs. A good response plan would include steps for containing a breach, assessing the impact, and notifying affected individuals.
It should also contain procedures for performing post-breach assessments to evaluate and enhance security measures. It makes sense to have a breach response plan to minimize the damage and help law firms recover clients sooner rather than later.
By the same token, showing that you tried to protect data may help if the breach is reported to the press or regulators.
What’s a Data Removal Tool? Do You Need One?
A data removal tool is a service that proactively removes your personal data from public databases, which can be accessed through a data broker. Brokers of data collect personal information and often sell it to third parties for marketing, analytics, or other uses.
Since data brokers frequently update their records, simply removing your data once isn’t enough. This is why you need an automated data removal tool like Incogni to repeatedly send removal requests on your behalf to keep your information off these sites.
Sensitive data could make you vulnerable to social engineering attacks, phishing scams, or reputational damage if exposed. A data removal tool helps you manage this risk by removing your online digital data from online directories and databases.
Conclusion
Data security is a continuous journey, not a one-time fix. Law firms must prioritize protecting client information and implementing proactive strategies such as secure access controls and data removal.
Tools like Incogni can be invaluable for removing unnecessary data from online databases, helping to reduce digital vulnerabilities.
Any law firm that follows these steps can protect their clients’ sensitive information, maintain compliance with data regulations, and reinforce client trust. After all, in the legal world, confidentiality and data security are two sides of the same coin.
