Most General Counsels Fret over Data Security

Fears over hacking, phishing, malware, and ransomware cause great concern among a vast majority of general counsels, according to a survey released today by ALM Intelligence and Morrison & Foerster.

The survey of more than 200 in-house top attorneys at US companies reveals that 87% toss and turn at night over these particular cyber threats. Some 62% are concerned that employee mistakes will lead to data security and privacy loss, while 50% fear potential security breaches by non-law firm vendors.

The survey also found that a majority of attorneys worry about cybersecurity threats (57%); the potential cost or impact to the firm's budget by these attacks (55%); and the potential for a government or regulatory investigation to be launched as a result of a breach (55%).

Hacking, phishing, malware, and ransomware are a bigger deal to attorneys than labor and employment litigation (59%) and than intellectual property infringement (60%), according to the survey.

Read more about the survey here.