Threats and key takeaways for the legal sector

A recent report highlights the vulnerabilities of the legal sector to cyber attacks, outlining the tactics employed by cybercriminals and offering strategies for organizations to enhance their defenses.

The Cyber Threat Report: UK Legal Sector has been released by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), with contributions from various entities including the Law Society, Bar Council, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Action Fraud, and the National Crime Agency (NCA). This report is tailored for law practices of all sizes and specialties, encompassing sole practitioners, high street and mid-size firms, barristers’ chambers, in-house legal teams, and large corporate entities.

According to the report, cybercriminals are indiscriminate in their targets, putting both small and large firms at risk. Legal organizations routinely manage significant amounts of financial transactions and confidential information, making them appealing targets. The shift towards hybrid working models—accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic—has further heightened their vulnerability to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

The report provides actionable recommendations for organizations to bolster their resilience against these cyber threats. It features case studies from the legal sector to illustrate the findings and presents key statistics from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Cyber Breaches Survey 2023. Additionally, it directs readers to various online resources and services offered by the NCSC, which can aid in safeguarding their organizations, partners, and clients. These include complimentary services such as:

Check Your Cyber Security, a service designed for smaller firms that conducts a series of straightforward online evaluations to uncover common vulnerabilities in their publicly-facing IT systems.
Exercise in a Box, an online tool that assists organizations in assessing their resilience to cyber attacks and practicing their incident response in a controlled environment.
Early Warning, a service that utilizes data feeds from the NCSC along with trusted public, commercial, and closed sources to alert organizations about potential cyber threats to their networks.

In her introductory remarks, Lindy Cameron, the CEO of NCSC, expressed:

“Recent instances of cyber attacks impacting the legal industry have fostered a deeper understanding of the issue at senior governance levels. The NCSC appreciates the rise in support and investment in cyber security within the sector.

The legal sector is pivotal to the NCSC as legal professionals, practices, and law firms are vital components of the UK’s economy and society. They are essential for delivering justice, resolving disputes, and conducting business. This report aims to enhance the sector’s resilience against cyber attacks.

Access the report