by Don Nokes | Law firms in today’s marketplace are facing a slew of cybersecurity mandates from their insurers and, in some cases, their business partners (banks, credit card processors and other large vendors), given the proliferation of hackers and breaches.
In fact, we’ve seen evolving policy requirements and firms dealing with the immediate need to implement increased cybersecurity safety protocols — in a fire-drill mode — prior to renewal of their policies.
As a result, law firms are well advised to proactively cover their bases. Basically, we tell law firms that just because they have met the criteria for their current policy, they shouldn’t be lulled into thinking their renewal will require the same levels of cyber safety.
For example, as our clients have been renewing their cybersecurity insurance policies, they are discovering security strategies, once optional are now mandatory to keep or purchase new coverage. What’s more, it’s common for firms to learn of more stringent renewal requirements close to the actual policy termination date.
Beyond the technical safeguards, we know that implementing best practices include protecting law firms’ systems and data, guarding against damage to law firms’ reputation and, ultimately, minimizing the law firm’s liability. For those who have experienced a hack, they know breach notifications alone are enough to paralyze a law firm for several weeks.
MFA: A Necessary Security Protocol or a Nuisance
The most common new requirement that we’re seeing is Multi-Factor Authentication or MFA. When it comes to MFA, law firms are finding they will need to attest that MFA is invoked at every level and for every user. Carriers are now placing this attestation as a new condition for renewal.
Read the full article from Rhode Island Lawyers Weekly here.
Nick Eckman joined NetCenergy in 2016 from an international gaming company. Nick’s experience with supervising and implementing secure, fiber and copper wire infrastructure services provides our clients with a team of highly trained and experienced technicians. In addition to the skills required to manage our infrastructure services department, Nick brings a very experienced and focused approach to project management and is a stickler for accurate documentation for every project designed and built by his team.
Peter Lachapelle joined NetCenergy in 2015 and is responsible for leading all of NetCenergy’s operations and accounting functions. Each department within NetCenergy reports through Lachapelle. He brings his years of experience to maintain a pragmatic, efficient, client-focused team at NetCenergy. Lachapelle joined NetCenergy after completing a 27-year career with a Rhode Island, federally-charted bank which culminated in his senior management position as COO and CFO for the bank.
Peter Nelson has 25+ years of technology and management experience and has been with NetCenergy since inception. Peter serves as the VP of Engineering at NetCenergy. His role consists of managing the engineering staff, driving the companies technology strategy, and ensuring NetCenergy keeps up to date on new technologies and solutions.
As a Founding Partner, Dan is a result oriented individual who is always focusing on what is best for his client. He understands that business applications empower an organization and that technology must support those critical business applications. Dan’s technology career started in 1990 at EMC Corporation. Through the years, he has represented technology and consulting services for several organizations until 2003, when he and Don Nokes founded NetCenergy.
As President of NetCenergy, Don is responsible for ensuring client satisfaction, overseeing overall performance, and for providing direction to the organization. Prior to co-founding the firm with Dan Charland, Don held senior leadership positions with IT service firms ranging in size from $3 Billion to $10 Million in annual sales.
With decades of hands-on HR experience, Margery Ahearn is our Director of Human Resources, overseeing all hiring of new positions for NetCenergy with a careful eye on sourcing technology savvy engineers and skilled office-based professionals who fit our company culture, understand our commitment to our clients, and bring their time and talents to our team. Margery has both a BA and MBA in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.