Archives for June 2017

Sensei Officers Mentioned in Oklahoma Bar Journal Article

June 29, 2017

Friend and colleague Jim Calloway recently mentioned Sharon Nelson and John Simek in his article, “Cyber-Attacks: Is It Really Not If You Will Be Attacked, But When?” His article was published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal, which is a publication of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Excerpt: I recently had the opportunity to hear my podcast teammate, Sharon Nelson, and her husband, John Simek, both of Sensei Enterprises, discuss data security and data disasters. They cite Bruce Schneier, a well-regarded expert on technology security who I have followed for many years, as saying it is unrealistic to assume one can build sufficient IT safeguards to keep evildoers out of your system. A mantra to identify the threats and protect the network has evolved. According to Ms. Nelson, the new framework is “identify, protect, detect, respond and recover.”

Read the entire article here.

SENSEI ARTICLE FEATURED IN SAN BERNARDINO BAR BULLETIN

June 28, 2017

“Security Fatigue and its Impact on Law Firm Security” by Sensei’s Sharon Nelson and John Simek was featured in the May 2017 issue of the San Bernardino Bar Association Bulletin.

Excerpt: People are inherently lazy. After all, why do something today that you can put off until tomorrow? Users hate to do anything that would slow down their access to their computer or data. That means they would much rather just sit at a keyboard and start to surf the Internet instead of entering logon credentials and then entering a second factor. How many times have you been tired of the constant password changes only to resort to using one you know you’ll remember and have previously used? Didn’t feel like creating a new account so passed on that online purchase? You are not alone.

A recent study from the National Institute of Technology (NIST) found that the majority of typical computer users experience security fatigue, which leads to risky computing behavior at work and in their personal lives. Security fatigue is defined as a reluctance or weariness to deal with computer security. So what does this mean for law firms? A balanced approach is the way to go. If you make things too difficult for the users, they will find ways around the security measures.

See the entire article on page 12 of the bulletin here.

Sensei Article Featured in Practice 2.0

June 27, 2017

“Technology/Cybersecurity Management & Policies” by Sensei’s Sharon Nelson and John Simek was recently featured in Practice 2.0. Practice 2.0 is the free, confidential practice management advice program of the State Bar of Arizona.

Excerpt: When experts in the field are willing to share their expertise, who are we to argue? We are excited, therefore, to pass on a great guide on these thorny issues from Sharon Nelson (Esq.) and John Simek of Sensei Enterprises – technology and cybersecurity gurus extraordinaire, national experts and founders of the company.

In this article they pose the following questions and provide expert guidance. Can lawyers actually manage their technology (instead of it managing them)? Can firms create and enforce policies that provide a secure environment for their users and protect client data, rather than acting like computer usage and security if the “Wild Wild West,” where anything goes?

See the entire article here.

Legal Talk Network Posts New Digital Detectives Podcast

June 26, 2017

Because lawyers are constantly handling confidential or sensitive information, cybersecurity and the careful handling of this information are an important part of running a successful firm. In this episode of Digital Detectives, hosts Sharon Nelson and John Simek talk to Jim McCauley about some of the ethical issues lawyers face and how the Virginia Bar is helping to educate lawyers on how to handle these issues. Some of these issues include information security and common scams used to hack into confidential data.

Listen to the podcast here.

Sensei Article Featured in VBA Journal

June 22, 2017

“Security Awareness: Is Your Firm Protected?” by Sensei’s Sharon Nelson and John Simek was featured in the Spring 2017 issue of the VBA Journal. The VBA Journal is a publication of the Virginia Bar Association.

Excerpt: The greatest threats to your law firm’s cybersecurity include click-happy employees and rogue workers determined to use their own devices, and go where they want to on the internet, against firm policies. Data beaches and ransomware infections regularly occur. Consider a few statistics. A study of 1,200 full-time employees in October 2015 by the Computer Technology Industry Association found that:

63 percent used work mobile devices for personal activities
94 percent used mobile business devices to connect to public Wi-Fi networks
78.5 percent used public Wi-Fi to check work email, and
60 percent used public Wi-Fi to gain access to work documents

Furthermore, 45 percent never had any cybersecurity training from employers.

See the entire article here (page 28-29).

John Simek Cited in Brand Bodyguards Article

June 21, 2017

Last month, Sensei’s John Simek was cited in the article “Things You’ll Wish You Had Done When Your Star Employee Defects” by John B. Farmer of Brand Bodyguards. Brand Bodyguards are experienced trademark lawyers who specialize in monitoring for trademark infringements and policing them.

Excerpt: Sometimes departing employees try to take important company data with them to use in the new job. They might send it out through a personal email account, or upload it to a cloud service, such as Dropbox.

You want to record electronic evidence of any such illicit activity in case you need it in a legal fight.

According to John Simek, who is a principal with the technology services firm Sensei Enterprises, your company’s computer network should be configured to log extensive server and firewall activity.

Simek also said that, for about $30 per computer, you can log all activity between that computer and any devices connected to it by a USB port.

Read the entire article here.

Sensei Article Featured in Texas Bar Journal

June 20, 2017

“Prepare and Beware: Why Your Law Firm Employees Need Security Training” by Sensei’s Sharon Nelson and John Simek was featured in the June 2017 issue of the Texas Bar Journal. The Texas Bar Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Texas.

Excerpt: Sadly, your greatest asset—your employees—is also the greatest threat to your cybersecurity. We know this because we regularly see data breaches and ransomware infections caused by click-happy staffers. You also have rogue employees determined to use their own devices and go where they want on the internet, irrespective of firm policies.

Let’s look at a few statistics. A 2015 Computing Technology Industry Association online survey of 1,200 full-time employees found that 45 percent of the respondents had never had any cybersecurity training from employers, 63 percent used work mobile devices for personal activities, and 94 percent used mobile business devices to connect to public Wi-Fi networks. That same year, an Association of Corporate Counsel survey of over 1,000 general counsels found that only one-in-three tracked attendance at mandatory cybersecurity training, only 19 percent gave a test, and only 17 percent had “simulated security events.” That needs to change.

Read the entire article here.

Gene Elliott

June 19, 2017

#SenseiSherlock took great delight in finding longtime friend Gene Elliott, member of the VSB Council and Executive Committee, at the VSB Annual Meeting banquet where Doris Causey was sworn in as the VSB’s first African American President!

Legal Talk Network Posts New Digital Edge Podcast

June 19, 2017

It’s no secret that access to justice is a significant issue within the legal industry, but when did lawyers first recognize the problem and how are they working to solve it? In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway discuss low bono legal services with Shantelle Argyle, executive director of Open Legal Services. Their discussion includes the unintended consequences of the access to justice movement, the biggest barriers to innovation in legal services, and the role of Open Legal Services as a legal aid organization. They also discuss what’s different about today’s legal services consumers and how they affect access to justice.

Listen to the podcast here.

Asha Holloman

June 17, 2017

#SenseiSherlock enjoyed a brief snuggle with the lovely Asha Holloman just before Sharon lectured on The Future of Law Practice with co-presenters Michael Robinson, Marni Byrum and Jim McCauley.