With the looming threat of a potential recession and economic downturn, many professional service firms are looking to reduce costs and increase efficiency in preparation. Many are also looking to adjust to a hybrid work environment that looks to be here to stay and overall relying more and more on digital communication platforms to recruit talent and grow their business. At the same time, many in the industry are looking ahead to what changes AI will have for professional service firms and the resources they will need. Central to all of these issues and trends is a move by firms to increase their digital footprint and rely more and more on technology to drive their business. There is a catch, though. With this digital migration comes increased risk and exposure to cyber-attacks. On average, an attack can cost a small to medium-sized business $2.2 million. In addition to this, professional service organizations like law firms and accounting firms are particularly appealing to bad actors, given the volume and nature of the data they hold for their firm and its clients. All hope is not lost, though. By implementing a security- first approach, professional service firms can ensure that as their digital footprint grows, so does their digital security. In simple terms, a security-first approach can be defined by the old adage, "the best defense is a good offense". By proactively addressing issues before they occur or spotting them and addressing them early on, service firms can help minimize their risk. But what does this look like for your IT infrastructure? A few of the key elements of a security-first are:
