Number one on the list of bad cybersecurity practices is failing to use multi-factor authentication.
Law firms that use single-factor authentication to enter critical data systems are playing with fire, according to the Cybsersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
Here are the top three on the CISA list of Bad Practices:
- Using single-factor authentication
- Using unsupported or “end-of-life” software
- Using weak or default passwords and credentials
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Most Widely Used Law Firm Cybersecurity Tools
- Spam filter (81 percent; this may be under-reported because most email service providers have at least basic spam filters)
- Software-based firewalls (75 percent)
- Anti-spyware (75 percent)
- Mandatory passwords (70 percent)
- Antivirus for desktops/laptops as well as for e-mail (both about 70 percent)
- Intrusion detection and prevention systems (33 percent)
[Source: 2021 ABA TechReport]
Here are some law office technology usage statistics from the 2021 ABA Survey:
- 53 percent of responding firms have a data retention policy
- 60 percent have a policy on email use
- 56 percent for internet use
- 57 percent for computer acceptable use
- 56 percent for remote access
- 48 percent for social media
- 32 percent personal technology use/BYOD
- 44 percent for employee privacy
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