Why Cybersecurity is Important for Every Law Firm with Kip Boyle

cyber attack cybercriminals cybersecurity data security phishing Jun 08, 2023

You're just a small company, so surely cybercriminals won't target you, right? Or maybe you're thinking, "We're a really big company; no one would dare target us." The truth is both of these statements are wrong. Cyber risk threatens everyone — as long as you make yourself an easy target. That's why everyone, whether you're a nine-figure law firm or a small corner shop, should learn how to get into cybersecurity.

In this episode, Kip Boyle discusses why and how to get into cybersecurity. We review basic security procedures that drastically reduce your cyber risk and explain one of the most common attacks.

If you’re a business with any kind of digital presence, this episode is for you.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode

Learn the basics of how to get into cybersecurity.
Understand the methods and mentality behind one of the most common types of cyber attack — and yes, you can be targeted by it too.
Find out how to reframe your view of cybersecurity.

Resources

Check out the new Profit with Law YouTube channel!
Want to implement what you’ve learnt in this episode? Download the Action Guide, a workbook designed to help you process and implement the knowledge gained from this interview.
Learn more about the Profit with Law Elite Coaching Program here.
Connect with Kip Boyle: LinkedIn | Twitter
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Episode Highlights

Who Is Kip Boyle?

Kip's job in cybersecurity is actually his B plan.
Kip served in the US Air Force as a pilot.

Kip: “It's a very purposeful activity for me, I don't really even doesn't feel like work most days. This feels like a very good purpose for me to be working in.”

While there, he learned how to get into cybersecurity when he worked with classified air-to-air weapons.

Kip: "The problem is that the internet is a digital battlefield. It's also a place, it's a dark alley, in the worst part of town..."

How to View Cybersecurity Risks

It's impossible to build a business today without being on the internet somehow.
The digital landscape has changed. Cyber issues are no longer minor annoyances — they pose a deadly threat to a business.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are a material business risk.

Kip: "Cyber is even more lethal because it can take away your ability to do everything and anything all at once."

On the internet, your email is your identity.

Moshe: “When we look at our business, if our perimeter is not secure, and somebody can get into our network, that's the same thing as leaving the car door open. Now, what can they do with it? Well, they can get in and they can just drive away with our business.”

Understanding Phishing

Phishing is a method attackers use to steal your online data, like passwords and authentication, to get into your accounts.
One of the most common phishing methods is when an attacker sends you an email that looks like it comes from a legitimate source but is not.
Phishing hijacks your emotional brain to make you act without thinking.

Kip: "There's been some law firms that have lost control of their clients' data. They went out of business, mostly because clients lost confidence in them. Not because the hackers made off with all their money."

How to Get Into Cybersecurity

Find an expert — just like how you would for any other problem.
You don't necessarily need cybersecurity expertise, just like you don't need HR expertise for an HR matter.
It's usually to your benefit to find counsel.

Kip: “But when you work on an HR matter, you're not expected to be an HR expert, you partner with an HR expert.”

Listen to the full episode for real-life examples of the value of outside counsel!
Learning how to get into cybersecurity should be part of your due diligence.

What Kind of Client Needs Cybersecurity?

In short, the answer is everyone. How many digital assets do you have?

Kip: "Money is a digital asset. Reputation is a digital asset, intellectual property of all different types and kinds, business plans, financial results, all this stuff is digital, because it all lives in computers."

Learning how to get into cybersecurity starts with your people. Kip's company takes a whole-picture perspective.
Attorneys need cybersecurity experts who treat it as a business issue, not a technological one.

Kip's Parting Advice: Be More Difficult

Kip strongly advises using either a password manager or multifactor authentication.
Everyone is a target regardless of size.
Criminals are lazy. Learning how to get into cybersecurity starts with being a slightly more difficult target.
Even a small amount of security drastically reduces your cyber risk.

About Kip

Kip Boyle is a former US Air Force pilot who turned to data security and protection after working with highly classified materials in the military. He founded Cyber Risk Opportunities in LLC after discovering how much he loved working in cybersecurity. Today, he's the virtual chief information security officer for various organizations, ranging from a professional sports team to new fin- and ad-tech companies.

But more than that, he's a husband and dad of six. He also hosts a podcast with his co-host, Jake Bernstein, to share the ins and outs of how to get into cybersecurity.

Connect with Kip Boyle on LinkedIn or Twitter. Alternatively, send him a question through the Cyber Risk Opportunities website.

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