Majority of UK and US firms ‘vulnerable to cyberattacks’

A majority of major UK and US law firms are vulnerable to cyberattacks, according to a recent survey by cybersecurity experts.

Researchers who surveyed 50 of the biggest firms across the two countries found most firms store data and document servers on premises, making them more vulnerable.

They also found that 90 per cent have business continuity plans in place for cyberattacks but have not clearly set out who is responsible for implementing those plans in emergencies, The Brief reports.

Sandpiper Partners, the US cybersecurity consultancy behind the research, said many law firms “saw the need to enact their business continuity plans — or retroactively create one — as a result of malware and terrorism, not to mention hurricanes and other natural disasters”.

The report also warned that lawyers should avoid “working remotely” and storing confidential information on mobile devices, instead making arrangements with “flexible workspace providers”.