Peak industry body the Australasian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA) has partnered with Australian cyber security experts AUCloud, launching an industry-first initiative to combat the ongoing threat of cybercrime and data breaches affecting law firms.
AUCloud CEO Peter Maloney said the rate of cyber-attacks reported by Australian law firms is at an all-time high, with cybercrime now the biggest threat facing the legal industry.
“The latest Government reporting and industry research is telling us that the Australian legal sector is under attack and currently extremely vulnerable to cyber threats,” Mr Maloney said.
“Law firms are under attack due to the critical role they play in our society; the abundance and nature of information we trust them with, their financial responsibilities and authority to act.”
“AUCloud and ALPMA have launched this initiative to help Australian law firms navigate their cyber security journey, increase their posture and ultimately help mitigate the risks associated with cyber-attacks.”
The initiative involves a mix of an integrated learning and development program, encompassing education and the deployment of cutting-edge cyber security technology tools, best practice policies and the latest frameworks.
The program leverages the skills and expertise of Australia’s top cyber security professionals, ensuring a comprehensive and sophisticated approach to safeguarding against cyber threats.
A key focus of this collaboration is the delivery of an annual schedule of in-person and online complimentary learning and development opportunities, specifically tailored to bolster the security measures of Australian law firms, particularly ALPMA members. Whilst the initiative main purpose is to educate, inform and help protect member firms it will also assist the industry to meet its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.
ALPMA CEO Emma Elliott said the cyber resilience program is now available, complimentary to all members.
“The legal industry can now access the latest advice, tools, technology and education to better equip themselves against cybercrime,” Mrs Elliott said.
“As a membership body we are continuously striving to bring value to our members and solve the many business challenges members face daily. This strategic partnership with AUCloud reflects ALPMA’s commitment to elevating cyber security standards within the legal sector, offering valuable resources and insights to its members.
Recognising the shared responsibility to adapt to evolving cyber threats, the initiative underscores the importance of following best practices in the legal industry.”
Recent data from the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) highlights that cybercrime is growing at an alarming rate with the legal sector ranking among the top three most targeted industries.
The latest industry research from peak body ALPMA has also revealed that more than half of all law firms do not regularly update their data security policy, suggesting a vulnerability.
The report also found the majority (55%) of all law firms had no formal policy when it comes to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), despite increasing cases of reputational damage and cyber breaches linked to legal practitioners using AI in the workplace.
AUCloud, a leading Australian cyber security and secure cloud provider, specialises in supporting Australian organisations and Government sectors with cutting-edge services in cloud infrastructure, backup and cyber security.
As part of this agreement, AUCloud and partner LexCloud will extend special cyber security resilience packages and discounts to all ALPMA members across its suite of award-winning cyber security and secure cloud solutions.
