UK law firms in 2025 are operating in an environment where cyber threats are growing ever more frequent and complex. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing, and financial and reputational impacts are severe. Proactive investment in increasing cybersecurity measures along with continuous vigilance and staff education, is no longer optional. UK Law firms must adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity.
Key actions include:
- Robust Cybersecurity Governance: Establish clear accountability at board level and ensure regular reporting on cyber risks.
- Enhanced Staff Training: Continuous, sophisticated training on identifying AI-powered phishing, deepfakes, and ransomware is paramount, addressing the “human error” vulnerability.
- Strong Technical Controls: use multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all systems, enforce strong password policies and ensure comprehensive encryption of data.
- Regular Risk Assessments: Identify any vulnerabilities in IT infrastructure, processes, and personnel.
- Incident Response Planning: Develop and regularly test a detailed incident response plan to enable swift detection, containment, notification (within the 72-hour GDPR timeframe, and potentially shorter under the new Bill), and recovery.
- Supply Chain Due Diligence: Thoroughly assess third-party vendors and ensure their cybersecurity measures meet required standards, with appropriate clauses in contracts.
- Automated Security Measures: Utilize advanced Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and regular patch management.
- Cyber Insurance: While not a substitute for robust security, cyber insurance can help mitigate financial losses from breaches.
- Cyber Essentials Certification: Compliance with this government-backed framework is becoming increasingly important and will be a requirement for firms with a Legal Aid Contract from October 2025.
The 2025 Cyber Security Breaches survey report: Cyber security breaches survey 2025 – GOV.UK. The report showed that just over four in ten businesses (43%) and three in ten charities (30%) reported having experienced any kind of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. The prevalence of cyber breaches and attacks in medium and large businesses remains high and phishing attacks remain the most prevalent and disruptive type of breach or attack.
Cyber Security guidance
The upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (2025) has been presented to Parliament but has not yet been enacted into law. The Bill aims to strengthen the UK’s cyber defences, protect critical infrastructure and essential digital services, and address vulnerabilities in the current regulatory framework, which is based on the 2018 NIS Regulations inherited from the EU.
The government also encourages businesses, charities and educational institutions to continue to follow the free help and guidance from the UK cyber security experts at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It includes advice on the secure use of video conferencing, secure home working and protecting your business.
