To stay compliant and protect client confidentiality, an SRA-regulated law firm needs several layers of cyber security working together: multi-factor authentication, endpoint and email protection, encrypted and tested backups, regular staff awareness training, and a recognised framework such as Cyber Essentials to tie it all together. No single product does the job on its own. Security for a law firm is about how these layers combine.
The SRA Standards and Regulations require firms to keep client matters confidential and to manage the risks to the business. In day-to-day terms, that means your technology controls and your professional obligations are now joined at the hip. So what does a sensible, compliant security posture look like for a firm of 10 to 100 people?
The layers that matter most
1. Identity and access
Most breaches start with a stolen password. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Microsoft 365 and every remote-access route is the single highest-impact control you can put in place. Pair it with least-privilege access, so people only reach the matters and systems they actually need, and remove accounts promptly when staff leave.
2. Endpoint and email protection
Laptops and PCs need modern endpoint protection with active monitoring, not just traditional antivirus. Email is the most common way an attacker gets into a firm, so advanced filtering, anti-impersonation controls and link protection all matter. They matter most around completion dates, when conveyancing fraud and payment-redirection scams tend to spike.
3. Data protection and backup
Client files must be backed up, encrypted and, above all, recoverable. A backup you’ve never tested is not really a backup. For ransomware resilience, look for immutable or off-site copies an attacker can’t encrypt alongside your live data, and a documented recovery time you’re comfortable with.
4. Your people
Fee earners and support staff are your front line. Short, regular security-awareness training and simulated phishing tests measurably cut the chance of someone clicking the wrong link or authorising the wrong payment. The SRA expects firms to take reasonable steps, and training is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take.
5. Governance and frameworks
Certifying to Cyber Essentials, and ideally Cyber Essentials Plus, gives you an independently verified baseline, shows due diligence to clients and insurers, and is increasingly required to win public-sector and corporate work. Back it with clear policies, an incident response plan, and a simple risk assessment you actually keep up to date.
How the right IT partner helps
An IT provider that knows the legal sector should deploy and monitor these controls for you, keep the evidence ready for your Cyber Essentials assessment and clients’ due-diligence questionnaires, and respond quickly when something looks wrong. Just as importantly, they should explain technical risk in plain language so partners can make informed decisions.
A real example: turning compliance into new business
Strong security isn’t only about defence. It can win work too. We helped a client become cyber security compliant specifically so they could meet a prospective customer’s requirements and bid for a large tender. Achieving and evidencing that compliance unlocked the contract and grew their business. The same pattern applies to law firms: demonstrable security is now part of how clients choose who to trust.
Why law firms choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002 and specialises in security and compliance for professional service firms. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we’ve been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London, including Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Not sure where your firm stands against Cyber Essentials or your SRA obligations? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT and we’ll assess your current controls, flag the gaps, and give you a clear, prioritised plan.