With cyberattacks seemingly increasing every day, businesses and organizations across the globe are searching for ways to keep their data safe and secure. Law firms, in particular, are at greater risk due to the sensitive information they store. Cloud computing has become an increasingly popular way for law firms to store their confidential data, but how secure is it?
Of course, law firms must take extra precautions to ensure that the cloud is both optimized and secure. In this guide, we will review the recent trends with law firms and cloud security while highlighting important best practices.
Why are Law Firms Migrating to the Cloud?
When COVID-19 hit, businesses flocked to the cloud, law firms included. At this point, according to the American Bar Association 2020 Tech Report, cloud usage for law firms has reached 59%. That’s more than half of U.S. firms! The benefits of moving to the cloud for law firms are far-reaching; let’s take a look at a few upward trends across law firms and cloud security:
Better Client-Based Experience
More than ever, consumers are enjoying the online experience in almost every aspect of their life. Utilizing the services of a law firm should be no different. In fact, firms that use online client portals received 11% more casework than others in 2019 alone. Even more, firms using online client portals received 17% more new casework per attorney in 2020. These statistics reveal just how powerful cloud services can be for law firms.
More Flexibility for Remote Work
Working remotely has become a major theme since 2020, independent of industry or company size. Cloud computing offers law firms the opportunity to keep their projects and data secure while still taking advantage of remote working opportunities. With cloud storage, law firms can ensure that confidential data remains safe and secure, no matter where lawyers or staff are working from.
Cost Savings
One of the most attractive benefits of cloud computing for law firms is cost savings. Not only do law firms save money on hardware costs, but they also save time on maintenance and updates. Plus, law firms can scale up or down depending on need, which helps them prevent unnecessary overspending.
How to Optimize Your Cloud Security
Law firm data is some of the most sensitive information in the world. Not to mention, depending on the practice, your law firm data may be subject to several government and industry compliance regulations. Law firms rely on cloud security to protect their clients and staff.
Take these steps to optimize your law firm cloud security:
- Use MFA: Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to law firm accounts. With MFA, law firms can keep their data safe from external threats and malicious attacks.
- Ensure Compliance: Law firms must also ensure they are compliant with any industry standards and regulations that apply to them. This means law firms should review all compliance regulations regularly and make sure they are up to date at all times.
- Encrypt Data: Encryption is one of the most powerful tools law firms have when it comes to protecting their data. By encrypting sensitive data, law firms can be sure that no one else will be able to access it—even if someone gains unauthorized access to their cloud storage system.
- Manage User Access: Finally, law firms must manage user access to their cloud storage accounts. This means firms should be sure to control who has access to their data and make sure that users are given the appropriate level of access for their role.
Law Firm Cloud Security Made Easy with Weber TC
Law firms need to take extra precautions when using the cloud—especially when storing sensitive information. By following these best practices, law firms can feel more confident that they are optimizing their cloud security while still enjoying all the benefits of cloud computing. With the right measures in place, law firms can ensure that their data is safe and secure—no matter what cyber threats arise.
If you are still searching for a way to better optimize the cloud for your law firm, schedule a free consultation with the experts at Weber TC today!
