Matthew Stringer, founder and CEO of Stridon
By Matthew Stringer, Founder and CEO at Legal Futures Associate Stridon [1]
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue, it’s a business-critical priority. For SME law firms, the challenge isn’t whether to invest in protection, but how to do it wisely. With limited budgets, growing threats and increasing client expectations, managing partners must make informed decisions that balance risk, cost, and operational impact.
Effective cybersecurity doesn’t require unlimited budgets. It requires strategic investment in high-impact areas such as identity protection, advanced endpoint security and data governance. Law firms must prioritise risk-based decisions and leverage existing tools to maximise value. So, what should every managing partner know about building cyber resilience without overspending?
The cost of doing nothing is rising
Law firms are now among the top three most targeted sectors globally, alongside healthcare and financial services. Why? Because they hold a goldmine of sensitive client data, often without the same level of protection as larger enterprises.
From ransomware and phishing to insider threats and AI-driven attacks, the threat landscape is evolving fast. And as Stridon’s experts have highlighted, these aren’t opportunistic hackers — they’re well-funded criminal operations using automation and generative AI to launch attacks at scale.
The cost of a breach isn’t just financial. It’s reputational. It’s regulatory. It’s relational. Clients expect confidentiality. Regulators expect compliance. And your reputation depends on both.
You don’t need to spend big – you need to spend smart
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be expensive. But it does need to be strategic.
Here’s what smart investment looks like:
- Prioritising essentials over nice-to-haves — focus on identity protection, advanced endpoint security, and data governance
- Consolidating tools — reduce complexity and cost by using integrated platforms like Microsoft 365 E5
- Training your team — phishing awareness and secure data handling are low-cost, high-impact
- Partnering with experts — outsource where needed to gain enterprise-grade protection without the overhead
Ultimately, you could spend unlimited sums on tools and still not be 100% secure. The goal is to understand where your investment makes the biggest impact.
Microsoft 365 E5: Enterprise-grade security without enterprise overhead
Many firms already use Microsoft 365 — but few unlock its full potential. The E5 license includes:
- Microsoft Defender for real-time threat detection across cloud, endpoint and identity management
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) to prevent accidental data exposure
- Insider Risk Management to monitor risky behaviour
- Advanced Audit and eDiscovery for compliance and governance
When paired with Microsoft 365 Copilot, E5 ensures AI tools operate within a secure, governed environment, helping firms boost productivity without compromising client trust.
Tailored risk management is key
Every law firm is different. A tailored risk assessment helps identify the most critical vulnerabilities based on your firm’s structure, client base and operational model. This ensures that cybersecurity investments are targeted and effective.
No two firms are the same. Practice areas, client profiles and internal capabilities vary. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.
Stridon’s risk-based methodology helps firms identify their highest-risk areas and invest where it matters most, whether that’s securing critical systems, protecting sensitive data, or enabling secure AI adoption.
Next steps for managing partners
- Click here to download [2] Stridon’s Cyber Threat Briefing for law firms – a concise overview of the key threats and how to tackle them
- Book on one of our free cyber security webinars which you can find out more about here [3]
- Book a meeting with Stridon’s cybersecurity team to explore how your firm can stay protected — without slowing down. Just email us with your availability at insights@stridon.co.uk [4].