In the legal sector, client confidentiality is a central regulatory requirement. Law firms, which handle sensitive personal data and corporate information, are a lucrative target for online criminals – and yet, many firms still lack robust cybersecurity defences, putting themselves and their clients at risk.
With increasing scrutiny from regulators and growing expectations among clients, law firms can no longer afford to treat cybersecurity as an afterthought. Certification provides a clear path to improving cyber resilience and meeting compliance obligations – but not all certifications are created equal, nor are they all relevant to every industry and profession.
In this blog, we’ll look closely at how the Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus cybersecurity certifications adhere to key regulatory requirements in the legal sector, unpacking the benefits of each and explaining how they help law firms meet their obligations.
Why law firms are prime targets for online criminals
Legal practices handle highly sensitive personal, financial and commercial data. From criminal defence and family law to merger deals and intellectual property, this information is often very valuable – which is why cybercriminals look at legal companies as a prime target.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, almost three-quarters of the UK’s 100 leading law firms have been affected by cyberattacks, while a study from chartered accountants Lubbock Fine revealed that there was a 77% increase in successful attacks on UK law companies in 2024.
The reputational damage from a data breach can be catastrophic. Beyond the risk of regulatory fines under GDPR, there’s the potential for lawsuits, loss of client trust and severe, long-lasting damage to a firm’s professional credibility. You only have to ask yourself whether, as a client, you’d trust a legal practice that had already been compromised by a data breach.
As the legal sector becomes more digitised, with cloud systems, client portals and remote working, cybersecurity is no longer merely an IT issue; it’s a business-critical concern. This is why law firms must take proactive steps to protect themselves against proliferating online security threats.
The legal sector’s compliance landscape
Law firms in the UK are bound by a complex network of legal, regulatory and professional obligations. These include:
Each of these frameworks calls for appropriate measures to protect client data, prevent unauthorised access and manage risk. But what exactly does ‘appropriate’ look like in practice? Cybersecurity certifications can help law firms establish baseline standards to protect data.
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus
Cyber Essentials is a UK government-backed certification scheme designed to help organisations establish basic cybersecurity protections and safeguard themselves against common online threats. Cyber Essentials Plus includes the same requirements but goes further with independent verification.
How it aligns with legal sector obligations:
- GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: GDPR’s Article 32 requires organisations to implement “appropriate technical and organisational measures” to secure personal data. Cyber Essentials provides a clear and recognised framework that meets this requirement at a baseline level.
- SRA guidance on cybersecurity: The SRA recommends that firms take proactive steps to prevent cybercrime, including the use of firewalls, secure configuration and access control – all covered by Cyber Essentials.
- Client confidentiality: Demonstrating certification shows clients and stakeholders that the firm takes cybersecurity seriously and has taken concrete steps to keep sensitive information out of the wrong hands.
- Lexcel requirements: While not mandatory, Lexcel accreditation places emphasis on risk management and information security. Cyber Essentials provides a solid foundation for meeting this threshold.
Ideal for:
Small to mid-sized legal practices looking for a cost-effective and widely recognised certification that demonstrates basic cyber hygiene and legal compliance.
How Cyber Essentials Supports SRA Compliance for Legal Firms
- Demonstrates Protection of Client Data.
Cyber Essentials requires controls that protect sensitive client data, aligning with the SRA's Code of Conduct, which mandates that firms protect client confidentiality and avoid data loss or unauthorised access.
- Establishes Clear Risk Management Foundations
The SRA expects law firms to identify, monitor, and mitigate risks. Cyber Essentials enforces baseline security across networks and devices, helping firms actively manage cyber threats as part of their wider risk strategy.
- Supports Business Continuity and Operational Resilience
Legal firms must maintain service continuity. Cyber Essentials includes requirements for secure patch management—key components in preventing downtime due to cyber incidents.
- Ensures Technical Controls Are in Place
The SRA stresses the need for appropriate technical systems. Cyber Essentials ensures firewalls, antivirus, access controls, and software updates are in place and functioning effectively.
- Provides an Auditable Framework for Regulators and Clients
Certification provides third-party verification of a firm’s cyber security posture, which supports the SRA’s push for transparency and accountability, especially in the event of a breach or investigation.
- Enhances Trust and Credibility in a Competitive Market
Cyber Essentials certification reassures clients that your firm takes security seriously—an increasingly important factor when clients choose legal representation and when insurers assess professional indemnity risk.
- Enhances Client Confidence and Professional Integrity
The SRA Code emphasises acting in a way that upholds public trust in the profession. Achieving Cyber Essentials demonstrates that a firm is actively protecting client data and modernising responsibly.
- Supports the SRA’s Focus on Operational Effectiveness
The SRA expects firms to operate effectively and with appropriate controls. Cyber Essentials requires firms to implement structured controls that reduce downtime, disruption, and liability from cyber threats.
- Aligns with Legal Duties to Protect Against Data Breaches
Under both SRA rules and the UK GDPR, legal firms must implement appropriate security to prevent data loss or breaches. Cyber Essentials ensures a base level of technical protection—validated annually
- Helps Fulfil Obligations to Staff and Training
Cyber Essentials encourages awareness and responsible user behavior, supporting SRA expectations that staff receive appropriate training and understand the importance of secure systems and confidentiality.
- Provides Evidence for Insurers and Risk Management Assessments
Law firms are increasingly asked by professional indemnity insurers to demonstrate cyber controls. Certification can reduce premiums and support applications by proving that reasonable precautions are in place.
- Reinforces a Culture of Accountability and Leadership
SRA guidance places responsibility for risk on the shoulders of firm leaders. Cyber Essentials helps senior management fulfill this duty by implementing and maintaining core controls firm-wide.
Cyber Essentials and Lexcel Accreditation: Enhancing Information Security
Cyber Essentials also supports compliance with the Lexcel Legal Practice Quality Mark, particularly its requirements around information security and risk management. Specifically, it helps by:
- Meeting Lexcel’s mandatory information management standards through structured security controls.
- Supporting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of client data, a key aspect of Lexcel’s risk and information assurance expectations.
- Documenting and evidencing security practices that auditors can easily review.
- Reinforcing business continuity and disaster recovery readiness, in line with Lexcel's operational continuity goals.
- Training staff on cyber risk and secure behaviours, fulfilling Lexcel's requirements for employee awareness.
- Reducing the likelihood and impact of cyber incidents, helping to satisfy Lexcel’s proactive risk management principles.
- Demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement, which Lexcel encourages across all operational areas.
- Providing an external, government-backed certification that enhances your Lexcel audit portfolio and risk profile.
Taking cybersecurity seriously
The legal profession is founded on trust – and this has to include data protection. Clients need to know their data is safe and regulators require proactive measures. Cybersecurity certifications enable legal firms to protect themselves, their good reputation and their clients’ confidentiality.
The certifications we’ve looked at in this blog align with key legal sector regulations while also enabling them to protect themselves against the ever-growing threat of cybersecurity breaches – which are increasing not just in number or type but also in technological sophistication.
Cyber Tec Security has a proven track record of helping firms in the legal sector obtain cybersecurity certifications and meet compliance requirements with confidence. Find out more about how to get your business Cyber Essentials certified by contacting our expert team today.