Digital Detectives

No lawyer wants a failing grade, but the fact that nearly one-third of law firms have experienced a data breach makes it apparent that cybersecurity preparedness needs some major work. Focusing specifically on smaller law firms, Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Tom Lambotte to discuss why lawyers fail to adequately protect themselves and what they should do to bring their cybersecurity measures up to scratch. Check out Tom's Stupid Simple Security Tips blog for quick & easy insights on protecting your data.  Tom Lambotte is the founder and CEO of Security+ and GlobalMac IT. Special thanks to our sponsors CaseFleet and PInow.

Data security risks are constantly evolving, and the past few years have only shown increases in the number of attacks faced by companies and organizations around the world. To examine these trends in depth, Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Craig Hoffman to look at the most recent stats from the BakerHostetler Data Security Incident Response Report. Craig offers insights into many of the report's findings, including the marked escalation in ransomware incidents, rising risks for previously untargeted industries, whether the work-from-home shift brought about an increase in security incidents, and much more. He also shares tips for what your first steps should be if your business suffers a data security breach.  Craig Hoffman is a sought-after digital risk advisor who co-leads the Digital Risk Advisory and Cybersecurity team at law firm BakerHostetler. Special thanks to our sponsors CaseFleet and PInow.

Autonomous killer robots have certainly grabbed a lot of screen time over the years, but is our world really going to end in an AI-fueled war? Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Brigadier General Patrick Huston to discuss his role at the Pentagon and dispel some of the most common myths about AI and its military applications. As a self-described "near pacifist," General Huston shares his perspective on the military's commitments to ethical and legal development of AI defenses and emphasizes the importance of creating partnerships between the government and the best and brightest AI experts in private industry. Brigadier General Patrick Huston is the Assistant Judge Advocate General for Military Law and Operations in the Pentagon, where he is keenly focused on privacy and the legal and ethical development of AI, cybersecurity and other emerging technologies. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

Robust and proactive cybersecurity is more critical than ever in our world, and today's government leaders must have effective plans for protecting against cyber attack. So, how is President Biden doing so far? Digital Detectives Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Stewart Baker to discuss the president's progress on current cybersecurity issues. Drawing from his many years of experience in government, law, and cybersecurity, Stewart outlines some of the existing problems and potential threats our nation is facing and critiques the president's approach to these complex matters. Stewart Baker practices law at Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, DC, and served as the first assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

Third party providers are often indispensable to law firms, but how can you know whether these working relationships could put you at risk for a security breach? With thousands of organizations still reeling from the recent SolarWinds attack, John and Sharon welcome technologist and cybersecurity expert Jeffrey Wells to discuss this event and what legal professionals can do to evaluate and improve their own security. Jeffrey R. Wells is the co-chair of the Cybersecurity, Data Protection & Privacy team at Clark Hill. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

What exactly are security assessments and penetration tests? What's the difference? Do you actually need to have these done in your law firm? Discovering vulnerabilities and taking steps to keep sensitive data secure should be highly important to all lawyers, and doing so may be simpler than you thought. The Digital Detectives hosts John Simek and Sharon Nelson discuss the elements of these evaluations, break down costs, and share what lawyers should do to ensure their firm's security. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

The legal world has made more forward progress since the start of the pandemic than many expected it could do in a decade. Lawyers formerly resistant to technology suddenly found themselves with no choice but to adapt and embrace digital-friendly legal practice. For a closer look at how these changes are playing out in the profession, Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with George Psiharis about Clio's 2020 Legal Trends Report. They discuss who is weathering pandemic-era shifts most effectively, the mass movement to cloud-based services, the importance of focusing on customer experience, and which COVID-era changes will likely carry on beyond the pandemic. George Psiharis is chief operating officer at Clio. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

Throughout 2020, ransomware has increased rapidly in both the number of incidents and the ransom amounts paid, and current data shows no foreseeable slowdown. As these ransom demands continue to surge, what do lawyers need to know if they fall victim to an attack? Digital Detectives Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk with Ted Kobus about how threat actors in these incidents typically operate, what usually happens to ransomed data, and what law firms should do and not do in the event of an attack. Ted Kobus is a partner and the firmwide chair of BakerHostetler's Digital Assets and Data Management Group. Special thanks to our sponsor PInow.

Audio and video files have become increasingly relevant in today's legal matters, and lawyers need to know how to best handle this information. Digital Detectives Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome eDiscovery experts Doug Austin and Brett Burney to discuss how to collect, preserve, search, and review audio/video information and then effectively present it in court. Doug Austin is an eDiscovery thought leader and blogger. Brett Burney is principal of Burney Consultants LLC. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

What happens when biometric information is compromised? For too many lawyers, the risks associated with this technology have been flying under the radar, but that needs to change! Digital Detectives hosts John and Sharon welcome Judy Selby to discuss the full spectrum of what lawyers should know about biometric technology. They address its many uses, the risks involved, relevant laws, and insurance coverage for biometric lawsuits. Judy Selby is a partner at Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

The upheaval caused by Covid-19 could very well have put your firm at risk for a data breach. Lawyers can't simply hope they won't become a target for hackers. Taking steps to maintain your security is your ethical obligation and vital to your clients' security. John Simek and Sharon Nelson talk with Mike Maschke about how to assess your cybersecurity and the role of penetration tests in discovering weaknesses in your systems. Mike Maschke is the chief executive officer and director of cybersecurity and digital forensics at Sensei Enterprises, Inc. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

The eDiscovery software known as technology-assisted review (TAR) is traditionally used by lawyers to distinguish between relevant and irrelevant case information, but its capabilities have now shifted into a new role in the fight against COVID-19. Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome lawyer and research professor Maura Grossman to discuss how this crossover is helping medical researchers find the information they need to accelerate progress in the study and treatment of the novel coronavirus. Maura R. Grossman, J.D., Ph.D., is a research professor at the University of Waterloo, an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, and principal at Maura Grossman Law, an eDiscovery law and consulting firm in Buffalo, New York. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

Lawyers are ethically obligated to maintain client security, but remote work has added a new layer of complication for many law firms. If you and your staff are not well-versed in the necessary work-at-home and remote access security measures, now is the time to get up to speed. Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome David Ries to discuss what lawyers need to know to maintain appropriate security. Read David's entire co-authored alert here: Work-At-Home and Remote Access – It's Time for a Security Review David Ries is of counsel in the Pittsburgh, PA office of Clark Hill PLC, where he practices in the areas of environmental, technology, and data protection law and litigation. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

In this edition of Digital Detectives, hosts Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Doug Austin to discuss current trends in eDiscovery and how the industry has been impacted by the pandemic. Doug also talks about his new blog, eDiscovery Today, which provides up-to-date insights on the most current developments in eDiscovery, data privacy, and cybersecurity. Doug Austin is an eDiscovery thought leader and blogger. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull and PInow.

Are you taking advantage of the security options available within your Microsoft products? Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Ben Schorr to talk about security basics in both Microsoft Windows and Microsoft 365 and his tips for adding additional layers of protection. They also discuss common security risks and user mistakes, address security vulnerabilities associated with remote work, and offer insights into how to best protect your law firm while working at home. Ben M. Schorr is a senior technical writer at Microsoft. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.

With the coronavirus outbreak driving people to work remotely, John and Sharon have been inundated with questions from lawyers and law firms on how to work from home securely. This edition of Digital Detectives is dedicated to answering the most common questions they've received and helping listeners continue to serve their clients in these uncertain times. They discuss methods lawyers should be employing during this crisis and offer recommendations for remote work tools and services. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.

Because of the sensitive information they hold in trust, lawyers should be very concerned about the security of their data. What can they learn from The Identity Theft Resource Center's (ITRC) 2019 End-of-Year Data Breach Report? Digital Detectives hosts Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome David Ries to discuss the details of the report, trends lawyers should be aware of, and the ITRC's recommendations for data breach victims. David Ries is of counsel in the Pittsburgh, PA office of Clark Hill PLC, where he practices in the areas of environmental, technology, and data protection law and litigation. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.

Is ethical artificial intelligence even possible? In response to growing concerns about issues with transparency, privacy, and AI bias, the American Bar Association passed Resolution 112 on August 12, 2019, which urged courts and lawyers to address the emerging ethical and legal issues related to the use of AI in the practice of law. Digital Detectives hosts John Simek and Sharon Nelson talk with Michael Mills about the landscape of AI in the legal space and what is being done to ensure the ethical and accountable use of AI technologies in the profession. Michael Mills is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Neota Logic, Inc. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.

Digital Detectives Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Mary Mack and Kaylee Walstad to discuss the current happenings at the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM). Mary and Kaylee recently acquired the EDRM from the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School and will continue to collaborate closely with Duke as they move forward. They discuss their new roles, current notable projects in the EDRM community, ways people can get involved, and their plans for the future. Mary Mack is chief executive officer and chief legal technologist at the EDRM. Kaylee Walstad is chief strategy officer of the EDRM. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.

The electricity revolution of the late 1800s may have begun slowly, but once its technology became mainstream, it fueled innovation in every aspect of life. The same is true of cloud technology today! However, even with huge amounts of cloud innovations making processes faster and more efficient, many lawyers still reluctant to make full use of it. In this edition of Digital Detectives, Sharon Nelson and John Simek welcome Andy Wilson to discuss the impacts of the cloud on the legal profession and his tips for making better use of this increasingly vital technology. Andy Wilson is the co-founder & CEO of Logikcull. Special thanks to our sponsor, Logikcull.