The Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA), a consortium of the leading legal cloud computing providers, is releasing its inaugural set of security standards. These draft standards help both legal providers and the growing legal technology sector collaboratively and transparently work together to address cybersecurity concerns and implement best practices for security into their joint operations. LCCA members each commit to using these security standards within their companies and services.
The LCCA guidelines incorporate industry best-practices, data privacy guidance from North American and European governments, and legal-specific requirements recommended by bar associations and courts. The new draft guidelines set standards for a range of issues related to law firms using cloud computing services, including:
- Geographic data residency location and disclosure requirements;
- Encryption and data integrity best practices;
- Restricting access to cloud-stored data by third parties;
- Data loss prevention measures; and
- Terms of Service and other contractual obligations to which each LCCA member commits.
The LCCA guidelines issuance is timely, as legal service providers continue to adopt cloud computing services in ever-increasing numbers. Of the lawyers surveyed in the American Bar Association’s 2015 Legal Technology Survey, currently 31% use cloud-based services to complete law-related tasks. However, other businesses have been quicker to adopt cloud-based services to enhance their own security. PWC’s Global State of Information Security® Survey 2016 Report found that 69% of non-legal businesses were adopting cloud computing services as part of their cybersecurity initiatives.
Lawyers, law departments, regulators, and the public at large are welcome to read and comment on the standards here: http://www.legalcloudcomputingassociation.org/standards/
All comments will be integrated into the final version of these standards being published in March, during the American Bar Association's TECHSHOW conference.
About the Legal Cloud Computing Association:
Formed in 2010, The Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA) is the collective voice of the leading cloud computing software providers for the legal profession. The LCCA consists of Clio (Themis Solutions, Inc.), DirectLaw, Inc., NetDocuments Inc., Nextpoint, Inc., Onit, Inc., and Rocket Matter, LLC. To find out more about the LCCA, visit http://www.legalcloudcomputingassociation.org/.
By Guest Blogger: Themis Solutions (Clio)
