With an increase in computer-based threats like ransomware and phishing scams, IT network security is a task no business should ignore—especially law practices that house confidential client information. With so many devices logging onto a network at any given time, if any of these devices are compromised, it could have a severe impact on your Houston-based law firm’s network. To better protect your firm’s system, be sure to take the following steps.

Set Up Strong Passwords

Passwords are the entry key to your legal practice’s network. Far too many law firms leave the default password when setting up their systems. This is a huge mistake. Be sure to create a new password that is hard to guess (use a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters) and give the attorneys at your firm a crash course on the importance of and how to keep passwords confidential.

Keep Your Firm’s Wi-Fi Network Secure

Today, like many businesses, most law firms are utilizing wireless technology for day-to-day work. Because of this, you’ll need to make an added effort to hide your law firm’s Wi-Fi network from outsiders who may want to intrude or piggyback on its connection. Ideally, you want to protect your Wi-Fi network from public view. However, if you don’t want to do this because it’s an inconvenience or you want to give clients the ability to log on, be sure to change the name to something run-of-the-mill. Utilize common names like “our Wi-Fi” or “router1”, so those with nefarious intentions won’t know it’s your business they’re targeting.

Maintain Compliance With Encryptions

Even if a hacker was to penetrate your firm’s network, if you’re using encryption, hackers cannot access your confidential data. This is just one of the benefits of implementing encryption in your system. You will also be able to move data securely and maintain integrity. But the most significant benefit, especially for law firms, is that you’ll be able to ensure compliance. Encryption is one of the safest ways law firms can transmit and store confidential data while also complying with the restrictions that they are legally obligated to uphold. Be sure to use at least a Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) encryption for your firm’s network, because older methods of encryption are more vulnerable to hackers.

Run Frequent Vulnerability Scans

A network vulnerability scan helps identify security vulnerabilities in systems hosted on specific IP addresses. Your law firm should run a vulnerability scan at least once a quarter to help discover any weak points in your network security. By running frequent vulnerability scans, you can catch any potential problems before they do any damage to your clients’ confidential data. For instance, a scan can detect any hidden malware lurking deep within your network. Scans can catch these and other vulnerabilities before they manifest and do real damage to your Houston-based law firm.

Perform Routine Backups

Regardless of your firm’s level of network security, routine backups are vital and should be performed as often as possible. Even in a worst-case scenario, with an up-to-date backup in place, you can be assured your valuable data is safe and accessible. When performing a network backup, make sure to also employ an off-site storage option for all of your data so that, in the event your entire facility is affected, your information will still be safely stored.

Recently, law firms have been susceptible to cyberattacks, specifically ransomware attacks. With these tips, you can get ahead of hackers who try to obtain your clients’ secure information. To learn more about obtaining better network security for your Houston-based law firm, contact On Demand today.