SECURING THE SANCTUM: A CYBERSECURITY GUIDE FOR INDIAN LAW FIRMS USING THE NIST FRAMEWORK

As custodians of sensitive legal data, Indian law firms face a mounting cybersecurity imperative. The NIST Cybersecurity Frame- work offers a strategic blueprint to protect client trust, professional integrity, and legal privilege.

- Dr Subroto Kumar Panda, CIO, Anand and Anand ENT

The Critical Imperative of Cybersecurity in Indian Legal Practice With the rapid advancement of information technology and the internet, the frequency and complexity of cyberattacks have risen significantly, further highlighting companies and individuals exposure to cybersecurity risks.

AI is now creating new avenues for cyberattacks leading to vulnerabilities unimaginable a few years back. Malware, phishing, and social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated through AI-powered techniques like deepfakes and personalized phishing emails. Cybersecurity is imperative for all corporates, however we will restrict our discussion for Indian law firms. These firms are custodian of highly sensitive client data (who can be individuals, Large and small Corporates).

Law firms are privy to Personal data such as Aadhaar, PAN, financials and sensitive company data including company finances, marketing and growth strategies, IP and litigation strategies of the clients. With increased digitalisation and use of AI, e-filing, remote hearings, cloud storage, the attack surface has expanded, exposing firms to threats like phishing, ransomware, and insider misuse. Smaller firms, often lacking robust IT systems, are particularly vulnerable. A breach can devastate trust, reputation, and professional liability.