Article Introduction
Every law firm, from a high‑street practice handling conveyancing to a city firm advising on complex mergers and acquisitions, depends on endpoints. Endpoints are the laptops, desktops, tablets and mobiles where solicitors, fee‑earners and support staff prepare case bundles, access practice management systems and work on privileged client data.
Criminals increasingly target the legal sector because firms handle sensitive information, hold client money and operate under time‑critical court and transaction deadlines, which make disruption costly and extortion more likely.
The National Cyber Security Centre has specifically warned that UK law firms of all sizes are prime targets, and has issued sector guidance to strengthen defences. Recent reporting also shows a sharp rise in successful cyber attacks against UK law firms, underlining the need for modern endpoint protection.
Regulatory obligations heighten the risk. The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires firms to keep clients’ affairs confidential and to safeguard money and assets, which has direct implications for information security and incident response. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 add duties around appropriate technical and organisational measures, breach reporting and data subject rights, all of which depend on robust endpoint controls and governance.
Contents
- The Early Days of Antivirus Protection
- Why Antivirus Alone Is No Longer Enough in a Law Firm
- The Rise of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Why a Modern EDR Approach Matters for Legal Practices
- What to Look For When Selecting EDR in a Law Firm
- Where Endpoint Protection Goes Next
- Taking the Next Step with Confidence
The Early Days of Antivirus Protection
For many years, traditional antivirus software was the standard tool for defending endpoints. Its job was simple: detect known malware by matching signatures in a vendor database. When threats moved slowly, and malware was spread via removable media or email attachments, this worked adequately for many legal practices.
A decade ago, smaller chambers and regional firms could often get by with an antivirus package installed on every PC. But the threat landscape evolved faster than signature updates, and attackers began exploiting zero‑day vulnerabilities, social engineering and remote access vectors that antivirus was never designed to handle.
Even then, antivirus was reactive. If a new strain appeared before signatures were updated, devices were exposed. As attackers accelerated, antivirus fell behind.
Why Antivirus Alone Is No Longer Enough in a Law Firm
Modern attacks include double‑extortion ransomware that both encrypts and exfiltrates case files, client documents and privileged materials, as well as fileless techniques that live in memory and evade signature‑based tools. Sector guidance now assumes that ransomware compromises confidentiality, which is a critical point for legal privilege and client trust.
Imagine antivirus as the lock on your front door. It keeps out someone who tries the handle. Today’s attackers scale walls, exploit side doors like compromised remote access, or trick staff via convincing phishing emails tied to live conveyancing transactions or settlement deadlines. Relying solely on antivirus is like having a sturdy lock while leaving side entrances open.
Prevention is only half the battle. Firms must also detect and contain intrusions quickly to limit downtime, preserve evidence for regulatory and insurance purposes, and maintain service continuity for clients.
The Rise of Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint Detection and Response shifts the focus from known bad files to real‑time behaviour. EDR continuously monitors endpoint activity, learns what normal looks like, and flags anomalies, for example, unusual access to matter repositories at 3 am or rapid encryption across multiple devices. It pairs visibility with action, so defenders can isolate a compromised laptop, terminate malicious processes, and investigate root causes with forensic context.
EDR is a major step forward for law firms. It turns endpoint protection from reactive prevention into proactive detection and rapid response, which is essential when privileged information, client funds and court timetables are at stake.
Why a Modern EDR Approach Matters for Legal Practices
For partners weighing cost against risk, the benefits are both technical and commercial:
- Reduced breach impact: Respond faster, contain threats, and avoid prolonged downtime that could halt your operations.
- Peace of mind: Business owners and leaders can move forward knowing they’re tackling modern threats, not old ones.
- Clarity for IT managers: EDR delivers dashboards and reports that make it easier to communicate risks to leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
- Business resilience: Preventing a ransomware attack or limiting its spread is often the difference between staying open and facing catastrophic losses.
In short, EDR is not just security software. It is an operational safeguard that protects reputation, regulatory standing and the ability to trade.
What to Look For When Selecting EDR in a Law Firm
Not all EDR platforms are equal, and usability for smaller IT teams matters. Prioritise solutions that:
- Provide simple, intuitive interfaces designed for smaller IT teams.
- Offer automation so that common threats can be handled without constant human input.
- Deliver cloud-based visibility, ideal for hybrid or remote working environments.
- Integrate with your other security tools, so your defences work together instead of in silos.
For non‑IT decision makers, ask whether the solution reduces risk in a manageable way, fits budget and headcount realities, and demonstrably strengthens your compliance posture.
Where Endpoint Protection Goes Next
Endpoint security continues to evolve. Extended Detection and Response (XDR) brings together signals from endpoints, network, email and cloud to give security teams a full environment view, enabling faster, more reliable detection across the attack chain. The NCSC’s Cyber Governance Code of Practice signals that cyber resilience must be led from the top, reinforcing the need for partner‑level oversight of cyber risk.
The takeaway for law firms is clear. EDR is not a passing trend. It is the foundation of modern legal‑sector security and governance.
Taking the Next Step with Confidence
Antivirus once did what was needed to keep businesses safe, but the world has changed, and attackers have adapted. Relying solely on antivirus software leaves critical gaps. Modern EDR closes those gaps, giving law firms more control, more visibility and more resilience, while supporting SRA obligations and data protection duties.
For UK law firms, the challenge is not whether you are a target, but how well prepared you are when the inevitable happens. Modern endpoint security is now essential to preserving privilege, protecting client money, meeting deadlines and maintaining trust. If you would like to explore how EDR and XDR could strengthen your firm’s protection, speak to Extech Cloud.
Extech Cloud delivers legal‑sector‑ready endpoint security, Microsoft 365 integration and governance support that align with SRA and NCSC guidance, so your practice can operate securely and confidently.
