October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For LA law firms that’s not just a reminder, it’s a reality check.
Because here’s the truth: most breaches don’t start with a hacker in a hoodie. They start with everyday habits.
An associate clicks a convincing email. A partner delays a system update. Someone reuses a password already exposed in a past breach.
None of it feels catastrophic… until it is.
But the good news? A few intentional habits can shield your firm from the risks that keep managing partners and COOs awake at night such as lost billable hours, failed audits or downtime during trial week.
Here are four cybersecurity habits every firm should lock in this month.
1. Communication: Make Security a Daily Conversation
Cybersecurity isn’t just IT’s job, it’s the firm’s collective responsibility.
When your people understand why certain rules exist, compliance becomes natural, not burdensome.
- Kick off staff meetings with a 60-second “phishing headline of the week.”
- Forward industry scam alerts with a short note: “Here’s what this would look like in your inbox.”
When awareness is woven into everyday talk, security becomes part of your culture and not an afterthought.
2. Compliance: Protect Trust, Not Just Data
Whether you’re navigating CPRA, HIPAA, or client-side Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs), compliance isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about preserving credibility.
Your firm’s reputation rides on how securely you handle sensitive matter data, client correspondence, and litigation files.
To stay ready:
- Review internal policies against your clients’ latest security questionnaires.
- Keep records of training, patching, and system updates.
- Make compliance a team value, not a technical hurdle.
Remember: your clients aren’t just hiring your legal brain, they’re trusting your digital discretion.
3. Continuity: Prepare for the “What If”
If your systems went dark during trial prep, how quickly could you recover?
Continuity is your silent partner in every case.
- Test your backups. Don’t just assume they’re running.
- Practice restoring a critical file from NetDocuments or iManage.
- Have a response plan for ransomware or regional outages (yes, even earthquakes).
A five-minute recovery test today can save five days of downtime when it matters most.
4. Culture: Make Security a Mark of Excellence
Your attorneys are your first line of defense. Build a culture where security feels empowering, not annoying.
- Encourage password managers and unique credentials.
- Require multifactor authentication (MFA) everywhere it’s offered.
- Celebrate vigilance and recognize staff who flag phishing attempts or report suspicious activity.
A “security-first” culture doesn’t just protect data, it strengthens your firm’s image as disciplined, detail-oriented, and client-trusted.
Security Is Everyone’s Job, But You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to tune up your defenses and confirm your firm is audit-ready, client-trusted, and trial-proof.
If you’re not sure where to start or suspect your current safeguards wouldn’t hold up under pressure, we can help.
Let’s build your firm’s cyber resilience together.
Schedule a free discovery call today and we’ll show you how to turn awareness into action so your attorneys can focus on winning cases, not chasing ransomware.
