What Is a Cybersecurity Consultant?

Let us explain why cybersecurity attorneys would benefit from consulting with a team of cybersecurity engineers.

In today’s technology-driven world, business executives who are your clients are likely aware of the importance of assessing their company’s cybersecurity risk and sharing information within the organization to address that risk. As a counsel, you may have to deal with actual breach situations for your client, which requires complex communication and coordination among various company parts.

There are legitimate concerns about how disclosing that information may appear in a litigation discovery proceeding. The client’s communication within the company about its cybersecurity program’s weaknesses could increase the company’s vulnerability to breach litigation. Additionally, when IT and security personnel develop policies without legal background, they may unknowingly increase the company’s risk.

What is the most effective approach to manage that specific scenario?

Managing Risk

Involving legal counsel in all essential aspects of cybersecurity risk assessment and breach response is critical for the potential protection of the company under the doctrine of attorney-client privilege. While there are benefits in a post-breach, incident response scenario, there’s also a solid case for establishing these legal privileges before any incident.

Partnering With Cybersecurity Attorneys

Did you know that AISN’s cybersecurity team partners with cybersecurity attorneys at law firms? We maintain a staff of highly skilled and vetted cybersecurity engineers who can assess a client’s cybersecurity program and security maturity.

We then work with the client’s attorney to design, implement, and maintain a roadmap of specific initiatives to preserve a reasonable and acceptable level of risk for the client.

Preserving Attorney-Client Privilege

For a client to preserve attorney-client privilege in the context of cybersecurity assessments and compliance, the ideal engagement involves the client retaining counsel to provide cybersecurity compliance guidance. Counsel then retains AISN as a subject-matter expert and technical advisor.

In coordination with the client, the counsel directs AISN’s efforts, receives our reports and recommendations, and then maps the results to the client’s legal obligations. The trust and privacy afforded under the attorney-client relationship ensure that clients receive independent, custom, and confidential cyber risk services.

Why Retain a Cybersecurity Consultant?

Many cybersecurity attorneys who retain cybersecurity experts to work with clients believe the decision is a no-brainer. These professionals’ depth and breadth of knowledge are invaluable to case outcomes. Examples of AISN’s services include:

• Identify strengths and weaknesses in designing and implementing your current cybersecurity program.
• Develop and drive implementation of a roadmap of critical initiatives to close gaps, build on existing strengths, and correct program weaknesses.
• Lead the development and update of cybersecurity policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines, leveraging our subject-matter expertise on best practices applicable to your business environment.
• Guide the establishment or improvement of your vulnerability management program, including regular vulnerability assessment and remediation activities.
• Oversee incident response planning and breach investigation activities.
• Help ensure your cybersecurity program complies with legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements.
• Provide third-party cybersecurity assessment and auditing services, including risk assessment, cybersecurity audits, vulnerability assessment, and penetration testing.

Are you interested in learning more about how we can support your law firm? Contact us today!

Laurie Head is the Co-Owner and CMCO of AIS Network. She has been working in the IT industry since the mid-90s.