A NEWCASTLE Emlyn company are supporting the legal sector in Wales as cyber-attacks on law firms continue to rise.

Telemat IT Support, a division of Antur Cymru Enterprise, have been raising the profile of cyber security among solicitors and law firms concerned about a security breach, with financial and identity theft, loss of clients and regulatory penalties among the issues faced.

Business Development Manager Kevin Harrington has worked in partnership with Business Wales to deliver guidance and advice, workshop training, free IT security audits and recorded a video discussing the key points around cyber essentials and a certification and consultancy service provided by Telemat.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult to protect a business from hackers given the sophisticated techniques and tricks being used to illegally access data and information,” he said.

“With law firms whose data is largely confidential and sensitive, the subject of an attack is hugely damaging from a reputational and financial perspective.

“There is a lot more that companies can be doing in partnership with the Law Society and by working alongside the authorities and organisations such as Telemat to educate themselves and minimise any future risk.

“Strong passwords which are regularly updated, training for staff and logging any incidents are among the steps that can be taken, and it’s important to tap into resources that offer peace of mind.”

In the UK alone, recent reports showed cyber-attacks have grown by more than 50 per cent in two years, which led to the National Cyber Security Centre (NSCS) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) requesting the Law Society to remind its members of their advice - on ransomware in particular - after a surge in incidents.

Kevin revealed that confusion over cyber security certifications is a notable grey area for law practices unaware of what approach best fits their business.

“Having a cyber-security budget and building it into future-proofing plans is a necessity at this point in time, especially when you consider the current economic and social challenges facing all industries post-pandemic,” he said.

“Always be aware, always be on your guard and get in touch for help and advice on what has become a major headache for law firms everywhere.”