Control Employee Web Usage: Online Security for Law Firms

You may or may not allow your firm employees to surf Facebook and Match.com. You want to give them some online freedom.

But where (or how) can you best draw the line?

Software written for large firms is too expensive and inefficient for a smaller law firms, which usually has five or fewer networked computers. And large systems might not combine protection from external attack with protection from inefficient and dangerous employee web usage.

And sooner or later, confidential information -- yours and your clients' -- will be attacked.

Enter Kaspersky Lab. The company has just released Kaspersky Small Office Security (KSOS), an integrated security software system designed for small firms, which combines state-of-the-art virus and malicious software ("malware") protection with controls on employee web usage.

This affordable, easy-to-install security software delivers both centralized control and high quality protection.

From a single PC, you can managing back-up of sensitive business data and other information on employee PCs, and make sure every PC has the latest security protection installed. You can scan any PC in the firm for viruses or security problems. If an employee disables the security firewall, you can re-install it immediately.

And you can create and enforce a web usage policy. You can customize employee access to websites; applications; games; social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter; and disable file downloads from pornographic, shopping or music-sharing sites.

KSOS also gives the small firm and solo practitioner automated file backup, data encryption and a file shredder utility.

These technologies allow the practitioner to manage staff, increase online security for the small law firm, and also to fulfill the duty of confidentiality to clients with appropriate due diligence.

Related Resources:

• Data Security 'needs to get sophisticated' (OntrackDataRecovery.co.uk)
• Stay safe when using streaming media (Groovy Gecko Streaming Solutions)
• Duty to Protect Trade Secrets (FindLaw)
• Skype iPhone App Sparks Net Neutrality Complaint to the FCC (FindLaw's Technologist)