How secure are your documents?

It seems like cybercrime is in the news every other week with stories of security issues and sensitive data getting hacked or accessed by the wrong person. Therefore it is questionable where is it safe for lawyers to store and transmit files containing information about cases, now that most firms are ‘less-paper’? Some perceptions of cloud technology however are that they fall to the risk of security breaches, but is this just a perception and how much safer is it than moving physical documents?

When law firms rely on paper based system such as the post or carrying files in taxis, they are in danger of threatening the security of these files, as they could be mislaid or intercepted by someone who does not have a legal right to see those documents. Clearly moving to an electronic document makes sense, but does it come with risk?

Over the last few weeks there have been news reports surrounding the hacking of Talk Talk, and the fact the personal data they were storing was unencrypted which has meant that millions of people around the UK could have been affected by this. With sensitive data such as; names, addresses and bank details being stolen, this type of theft leaves their customers in danger of fraudulent crime. Despite the fact this is the third time this year that they have been hacked, Talk Talk have stated that legally the data protection act does not require them to encrypt this type of data. 
 

So you can see why there is a security fear around transferring sensitive documents within law firms, therefore encryption is a must. In addition, many systems that lawyers often rely on to share files and collaborate on documents often do not provide encryption, posing a threat to the security of the highly sensitive data they deal with every day. Extranets protect data when stored on server or during transfer through the use of encryption technology. Granular permission settings of extranets means that there is greater security over important documents, different permissions can be set for different users, so that files are only seen by those who have permission. This gives greater control for the firm, as well giving the firm, its lawyers and its clients reassurance, as reporting functions can be set so that the system tracks when users look at or edit files and reports it. Furthermore, some extranets give you the option of using cloud or on premise solutions to fit a firm’s requirements and security needs. 

The recent attack on Talk Talk demonstrates how important it is that sensitive data is stored and shared securely. So the reliance on old forms of sharing documents and files, leaves firms at risk of documents and sensitive files getting in the wrong hands. Extranets work to resolve these problems traditional methods pose, by creating a secure place to store and share data, giving greater control to firms over who can see and edit different documents.

 

Nikec Solutions [ www.nikecsolutions.com ]

Nikec Hub is a powerful secure file sharing and collaboration platform that makes sharing data between colleagues and clients simple.

Nikec Hub provides firms with a secure and efficient way of managing information, while enhancing communications and collaboration with colleague and clients. It integrates seamlessly with your document management system allowing users to create their own extranet in a few quick steps. It also integrates with many practice management systems enabling firms to provide up-to-date management information to their clients all from within a single, powerful portal. Visit Nikec Hub page

Need more information or want to test drive Nikec Hub? Contact us as info@nikecsolutions.com