Here at Biscom we take ILTA very seriously. After all, its members are the driving force in the evolution of legal technology. In the past year alone, we’ve exhibited at the last ILTA conference, participated in several product briefings and hosted almost a dozen roadshows on file transfer security. Now I’m excited to announce that we’ve taken the next step: ILTA has invited us to present at its 2011 conference.

The Biscom session, part of the conference’s State of the Art Technology Demos track, is scheduled for August 23 at 1:30 p.m. and will focus on the secure and audited delivery of documents and files.

The session will discuss how to:

• Secure the document exchange process

• Replace cumbersome and often unsecured FTP sites

• Offload large email attachments

• End dependence on physical media such as CDs and thumb drives

• Meet regulatory compliance

• Collaborate in a secure environment with clients and outside counsel

• Implement advanced encryption and user authentication

• Take advantage of Biscom’s integration with popular software such as SharePoint, Outlook, iManage and Litera

This is a timely decision by ILTA. News is breaking every day on the latest data breaches. These breaches mean costly fines and even more costly long-term repercussions for law firms such as hits to business development and client relations.

So if you are at ILTA 2011, join us to explore security protocols and solutions in the Canal E room of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel at 1:30 p.m. on August 23. And if you’re a Twitter enthusiast, reference hashtag #DEMO7 during the session.

We’ll see you at ILTA! Come by our booth - #113.

During the past quarter, I’ve had the privilege of hosting a series of ILTA roadshows focused on security issues around file transfers. The roadshows – held in Boston, New York and DC – typically welcome around 20 IT professionals each from multiple law firms. The intimate size helps us all to have frank discussions about what keeps IT up at night.

On the forefront: Breaching client confidentiality and regulations.

Beyond the obvious dread of jeopardizing a law firm’s reputation and opening it up for massive fines, there’s a personal take as well. IT leaders are realizing that they are responsible for technology safeguards that protect client data and comply with federal and state data privacy regulations.


The Culprits: Email and FTP Sites

Two methods of potentially risky file transfer kept surfacing during our conversations: Email and FTP sites.

The attendees expressed concern that there seems to be little regard from attorneys and staff when  it comes to potential security breaches caused by using email and unsecured FTP sites  to transfer client documents and files.

It is almost like the proverbial Sword of Damocles is hanging over legal IT’s head. IT is only one wrong click or FTP error away from heavy fines and potential damage to law firms’ reputations.


Revenge of the Large Email Attachments

The 2010 ILTA member technology purchasing survey identified email management as the biggest issue facing legal IT for the third year running and the roadshow attendees verified that the ever-increasing size of email attachments is a growing support issue.

Is this scenario familiar?

An attorney tries to attach a 50 MB+ PDF to an email addressed to a client.  If the email is lucky enough to traverse the firm’s exchange gateway, there is a good chance it will get bounced back due to recipient email size limitations.  The attorney then receives an undeliverable message (sometimes not until the next day) and contacts IT for help.  Cue the IT support drama!

Would you believe that one of the most popular remedies is to break up a large file into multiple smaller files and then send multiple email messages?  This is a quick fix, yes, but doesn’t speak to a law firm’s technical prowess.


And Don’t Even Start us on FTPs

Another common option is for IT to erect an FTP site. After a communal groan, the attendees agreed FTP sites are often difficult to use, challenging to secure and an overall pain in the neck.


What do you think?

Does your law firm face challenges when transferring large files?  What do you think are the leading security issues around this?

Leave a comment below so we can continue the conversation.


Coming to a City Near You

ILTA is planning more roadshows for Biscom so hopefully I’ll be in your neck of the woods soon.  Feel free to reach out to me at cmagliato at biscom.com if you have a specific city in mind you’d like to see us in. I will keep you posted.