Your firewall’s up to date. You’ve got antivirus software. Someone comes in when the server plays up. Job done, right? For many law firms, that’s been the approach to IT security for years. But whilst traditional IT support keeps the lights on, it’s not designed to stop the sophisticated, targeted attacks that are hitting law firms with increasing frequency.

The legal sector has become one of the most lucrative targets for cybercriminals. You’re holding high-value data – confidential client information, privileged communications, commercial contracts, financial records – that’s worth considerably more on the dark web than standard business data. A single breach doesn’t just compromise your systems. It destroys client trust, triggers regulatory action, and can cripple your reputation overnight.

Traditional IT support isn’t designed to handle these sophisticated threats. For many Aberdeen law firms, the gap between the IT support they’ve got and the IT support they actually need is much wider than you might think.

Why Law Firms Remain in the Crosshairs

Recent attacks on UK legal practices have shown just how sophisticated cyber threats have become. Ransomware operators no longer just encrypt your files – they exfiltrate your data first, then threaten to publish it if you don’t pay. Imagine your clients’ case files, due diligence documents, or M&A negotiations appearing online. The fallout would be catastrophic.

Your traditional reactive and ‘break-fix’ IT support model isn’t built for this threat landscape. Although it successfully handles the technical infrastructure – keeping servers running, managing backups, sorting out email issues – It typically doesn’t provide active threat monitoring, sector-specific security protocols, or the kind of proactive defence that prevents attacks before they happen.

Cybercriminals aren’t just looking for technical vulnerabilities. They’re exploiting the intersection between people, processes, and systems. It could be a convincing phishing email that appears to come from the Law Society or a client; a payment redirect scam during a conveyancing transaction; or compromised credentials from a partner working remotely. These are the entry points that bypass traditional defences.

Aberdeen’s Specific Pressures

Aberdeen law firms face particular challenges that intensify cyber security risks. The city’s strong presence in oil and gas, commercial property, and maritime law means many practices handle commercially sensitive transactions worth millions. You’re managing data that competitors, foreign state actors, and organised crime groups actively want to access.

The regulatory environment adds another layer of complexity. Under Rule B1.6 of the Law Society of Scotland’s Practice Rules, you must maintain client confidentiality – a duty that “is not terminated by the passage of time.” This isn’t just professional ethics; it’s a mandatory obligation. A data breach doesn’t simply become an IT problem. It becomes a potential professional misconduct issue.

Then there’s the practical reality: many Aberdeen firms are small to medium-sized practices without dedicated security teams. You’re competing for the same limited pool of IT expertise as the city’s energy sector, which tends to pay premium rates. That makes it harder to build internal capabilities, which means you’re relying entirely on your IT provider to get security right.

What Sector-Aware Cyber Security Looks Like

Moving from reactive IT support to proactive, legal-sector-focused cyber security means addressing several critical areas:

Essential security layers include:

• Advanced email security: Phishing remains the primary attack vector. You need AI-powered threat detection, sandboxing for suspicious attachments, and regular phishing simulations tailored to legal sector scenarios.
• Multi-factor authentication: Every access point to client data or financial systems should require additional verification beyond passwords. This single measure blocks the vast majority of credential-based attacks.
• Isolated, tested backups: Ransomware can lock you out of your entire system within hours. Your backups must be air-gapped from your network and regularly tested for restoration. 
• Endpoint protection: With hybrid working now standard, devices access your systems from home offices, coffee shops, and client premises. Modern endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools identify and stop threats before they spread.
• Continuous monitoring: Cyber security requires 24/7 monitoring for unusual activity, regular vulnerability assessments, and rapid response capabilities when threats are detected.

The difference between traditional IT support and sector-aware cyber security is the shift from reactive to proactive. Instead of fixing problems after they occur, you’re identifying and neutralising threats before they cause damage.

The Human Factor Still Matters

Even the most sophisticated security infrastructure has a weakness: people. It could be a partner clicking a malicious link; an assistant falling for a payment redirect scam; or a trainee using a weak password. That’s often all it takes.

But here’s the crucial point: your staff aren’t the problem if they’ve been properly trained. Effective security training isn’t an annual compliance tick-box exercise. It’s regular, scenario-based, and relevant to the specific threats targeting law firms. Your team should be knowledgeable enough to answer these kinds of questions:

• What does a phishing attempt look like when it’s designed to fool legal professionals?
• How do you verify payment instruction changes? 
• What should you do if you suspect you’ve compromised credentials?

When training is done well, your team becomes your strongest line of defence.

Compliance Isn’t Optional

For Scottish law firms, cyber security is inseparable from regulatory compliance. Not only does the Law Society of Scotland’s Practice Rules require firms to maintain confidentiality, but UK GDPR mandates appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data. If you experience a breach, you have 72 hours to report it to the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

The Law Society of Scotland’s guidance on security specifically addresses the need for measures appropriate to the risks you face. It references the £98,000 fine imposed on a solicitors’ firm following a ransomware attack that encrypted nearly a million files, including thousands of court bundles. That’s not just a financial penalty – it’s reputational damage that takes years to recover from.

Proper cyber security doesn’t have to disrupt your practice. When implemented correctly, it works quietly in the background, protecting your systems without impeding your team’s work.

Moving Forward

If your IT support is primarily reactive – someone you call when things break – it’s worth asking whether that’s sufficient for the current threat landscape. If your provider doesn’t specialise in legal sector security or understand your compliance obligations, you may be exposed to risks you haven’t fully considered.

Cyber security for law firms isn’t about buying the most expensive tools.It’s about taking a comprehensive, proactive approach that addresses your specific risks and regulatory requirements. You want an IT partner who understands the legal sector, stays ahead of emerging threats, and can explain what you need in plain English.

Your clients trust you with their most sensitive information and their most important legal matters. Protecting that trust requires more than traditional IT support.

Let’s Have a Conversation

At Jera, we understand that in the legal world, trust and confidentiality are everything. Protecting your clients’ sensitive data and maintaining compliance are non-negotiable. As certified cyber security experts, we don’t just follow best practices – we help shape them. We actively hunt for risks and threats, strengthen your defences, and make sure your IT is never the weakest link.

If you’re wondering whether your current cyber security measures are sufficient, let’s have an honest chat about it. Book a 30 minute call to discuss your IT needs – no fluff, no corporate nonsense, just a straightforward conversation about what’s working, what’s not, and how we can help protect your firm and your clients.