Within the legal sector, there is great concern about increasing and maintaining employee productivity. Due to the inherent characteristics of the legal profession and market, this issue has become increasingly relevant. The more intelligent and efficient the methods and strategies used, the greater the profits . For this reason, increasing productivity in law firms is an extremely important matter for managers.
In this scenario, there is a constant search for tools and solutions that help increase employee productivity and ensure the protection of confidential data. The main objective, with regard to the legal sector, is to guarantee greater output in the shortest possible time , to increase fee income and promote business success.
With work being done online, digital security has also become a major concern for companies. Cyberattacks are evolving every day, and small points of vulnerability can cause immense damage to a business , mainly through data loss, information leaks, and attacks that generate financial losses, such as ransomware .
Because this activity is directly related to the number of tasks performed, a lawyer needs to be constantly on the move to ensure greater profit and superior results , without compromising information security in any way. Therefore, this professional faces a daily struggle to ensure the execution of current demands while simultaneously seeking new opportunities to increase their income.
The importance of information security in law firms
Cybercrimes are increasingly prevalent and causing immeasurable damage to companies in all sectors. Regarding the needs of law firms, especially after the General Data Protection Law ( ), there has been a meteoric rise in the need to protect information and ensure data confidentiality. In this sense, the use and manipulation of data on the internet should be a concern and a priority for managers within the legal market.
According to data from January, Brazil experienced a 37% increase in cyberattacks suffered by companies in the third quarter of 2022 alone. Globally, the growth was 28%, highlighting the vulnerability of national companies regarding digital security.
In order to understand the impact of information security within law firms, we need to understand how this concept is applied within this market.
Information security consists of a strategy focused on protecting and managing data, preventing theft, leaks, and loss of confidential information , as well as damage to equipment, systems, networks, and servers resulting from cyberattacks. A valuable ally in information security strategy is the creation of an internet usage policy. Do you know how it works? Check out this video on the subject:
This means that this set of measures helps to provide an active fight against digital threats. Within a law firm, the information that is stored may contain strategic or confidential client data , and its exposure can represent a major loss for the business.
The risks of exposing confidential information
As mentioned above, the exposure of data stored by a law firm can cause several problems for both the lawyer and their client . The General Data Protection Law states in its article 46 that:
"Data controllers must adopt technical and administrative security measures capable of protecting personal data from unauthorized access and from accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, communication, or any other form of inappropriate or unlawful processing."
Due to the provisions of this article and other legal instruments, law firms need to keep in mind that a secure and intelligent risk management strategy must be implemented. In addition to this strategy, certain security measures should also be adopted to help identify, avoid, and eliminate potential vulnerabilities that could lead to the exposure of their information.
The Code of Ethics of the Brazilian Bar Association stipulates that it is the lawyer's obligation to maintain confidentiality regarding information and facts disclosed to them during the exercise of their profession. This means that data provided by their clients must be protected above all else, preventing leaks and data loss which, in addition to hindering the proper course of proceedings, can also facilitate scams and extortion attempts.
Another major drawback for law firms that lack effective information security management is that potential failures, leaks, theft, and data loss can severely damage the firm's image in the market . This can ultimately jeopardize the continuity of its operations and the firm's success.
Cyberattacks targeting law firms are nothing new and increase considerably every year. Data breaches in this business segment often bring significant profits to cybercriminals , which is why this type of business is always among the most attacked.
With the advancement of technology, law firms have also become more dependent on technological resources , so that much of the information needed to serve clients is stored on devices such as computers and smartphones. While this technology helps to speed up processes, it also increases the risk of information exposure.
Due to the sensitivity of the information exchanged and stored by lawyers, cybercriminals seek to obtain this information illegally in order to carry out leaks , extortion attempts, and demand ransom payments, which occurs in ransomware attacks.
Best security practices for law firms
Given all the problems that can be caused by information leaks , it is extremely necessary to adopt strategies that help increase security within law firms. To that end, we have outlined some practices that can contribute to maintaining the confidentiality of stored data:
Information security policies
An information security policy is a document that outlines practices, rules, and measures aimed at ensuring the protection of a business's data and systems. Within a law firm, it needs to include the measures employees must follow when handling confidential information, the types of access permitted, rules for protecting mobile devices, and an emergency protocol in case of a data breach or cyberattack.
The main objective of this document is to minimize risks, losses, and violations related to a company's technology. Through it, managers can protect information while complying with all current legislation and ensuring greater security for customers.
Training for employees
It's pointless to have an information security policy if employees aren't prepared for these new practices. It's essential to have a training process that helps all employees understand the importance of data protection and how certain actions can harm the business.
By empowering employees from different areas within the law firm, it is possible to provide greater protection and avoid various problems that hinder the progress of activities .
Use of security software
Antivirus software and firewalls are essential for maintaining the security of stored data and the devices and systems used by the company. There are several solutions on the market, each with its own specific characteristics. For this reason, it is important to conduct prior research to determine which resource best meets the company's needs .
These tools help detect potential threats and block them before they cause any real damage to the business.
Data access management
Although the internet is essential for many activities carried out within a law firm, it also has features that harm employee productivity and increase the vulnerability of the company's information systems and networks.
Access control helps ensure that only essential resources are available for day-to-day activities and helps prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing all resources. Access control is important to prevent confidential information from being accessed by unauthorized people , reducing the chances of leaks.
The relationship between information security and employee productivity
As we have seen, ensuring the security of a company's digital resources is essential to prevent leaks and cyberattacks . However, productivity can also be significantly impacted by a lack of information security strategy.
By focusing on information security, the company can also contribute to increased productivity . This happens thanks to several factors, such as:
No downtime for maintenance
Some viruses and malware on the market, widely used by cybercriminals, can disrupt the proper functioning of devices used within a company. If these devices become unavailable, business operations are hampered , and consequently, the company may be unable to meet deadlines and demands.
By avoiding this type of threat, managers can keep all devices functioning properly and contribute to good productivity for all employees. Investing in information security helps ensure the good performance of both computers and employees.
Increases focus on activities
Blocking certain unnecessary resources, access, and tools used during work hours not only contributes to data security, but also allows employees to stay more focused on what is truly important to the firm's strategy and deliver increasingly better results.
Examples of practices that can increase productivity without compromising information security
If your goal is to increase employee productivity within law firms, check out some tips we've prepared to help you achieve your goals without compromising the company's information security:
Improve the organizational climate
The environment where employees perform their activities must be suitable for them to carry out their tasks calmly. This means that, in addition to all the necessary infrastructure for them to work comfortably and safely, the company also needs to ensure that this team is motivated and receives the best possible support .
Conducting a survey among employees helps identify potential areas for improvement and contributes to the implementation of measures aimed at optimizing the work environment.
Focus on people management
We know that within a law firm, the demands can be numerous, and employees often feel pressured to achieve results at all costs.
To avoid problems and help employees better engage with the company's goals and demands, it's possible to invest in smarter people management practices that will help monitor employees and assist them in achieving their goals. A good example of this is providing constant and dynamic feedback.
Invest in automation
There are many processes that can be improved through technological resources , enabling you to increase productivity within a law firm.
Many routine activities can be automated, freeing up employees for more important tasks and preventing overload . Process automation can be a valuable ally and help your business achieve the success you desire.
Strengthen communication
Many problems that occur within companies are caused by communication issues between managers and employees. Investing in quality communication helps increase productivity and reduce the incidence of errors.
The exchange of information within the company should be clear and transparent , and employees should feel free to ask questions and seek information from their managers.
Conclusion
Throughout this article, we've seen that increasing productivity and protecting confidential data within your law firm can be simpler than you think. It's crucial that the firm adopts effective security measures to prevent leaks , theft, and misuse of information stored within the office.
Furthermore, these measures can also contribute to increased productivity and, consequently, improved business results. Therefore, it's a strategy that offers numerous advantages for businesses that want to remain competitive in the market.
In a world where competition is so fierce, all resources that allow for substantial growth should be considered. Lumiun offers several tools that can help you ensure more efficient management of access within your company.
Through our resources, your office can establish more effective access control, increase productivity, and contribute to the security of information within the company.
Until later!
