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Your firm is at risk because your staff has too much access

Stop privilege creep before it costs you a client

Arthur Gaplanyan

50% Access Risk

You can have the strongest firewall in the world, the most airtight cybersecurity policy, and still be vulnerable if your team members have access to files, platforms, or systems they no longer need.

It’s called privilege creep. For law firms, it’s not just a minor IT oversight. It’s a potential breach, a compliance headache, and a reputational risk all rolled into one.

The Hidden Problem Behind Too Much Access

A recent CloudEagle report shows that 50% of employees frequently retain unnecessary elevated access, long after changing roles or finishing certain tasks. It doesn’t stop there.

Almost half of all former employees still have access to business-critical systems after they’ve left the company.

Why does this happen?

Because most law firms, especially small to mid-sized ones, are juggling manual processes, outdated access reviews, and scattered IT oversight. It’s no one’s fault. And yet, it’s everyone’s problem. When onboarding and offboarding rely on spreadsheets, emails, or memory, things slip through the cracks.

And in law, where confidentiality isn’t just best practice but ethical obligation, that’s a dangerous place to be.

Why Law Firms Are Especially Vulnerable

Legal practices handle some of the most sensitive data imaginable: client records, settlement details, court documents, and financial transactions. If a paralegal still has access to a case after being reassigned (or worse, after leaving the firm) there’s a clear window for misuse or accidental exposure.

Add in the fact that many employees now work remotely. That creates a perfect storm of shared logins, unsanctioned tools, and forgotten permissions. According to the CloudEagle report, 60% of AI and SaaS tools used by employees are completely invisible to IT.

These are apps downloaded on a whim. They might include AI chatbots, document editors, or e-signature tools that bypass vetting and expose the firm to unnecessary risk.

The Real-World Consequences

This isn’t a theoretical risk.

In just the past year:

  • 28% of enterprises have experienced security incidents directly tied to overprivileged access.
  • 70% of CIOs flagged AI tools as one of their top security concerns. These are tools many employees add without formal approval.

For law firms, this means potential data breaches, failed audits, or ethical violations. Any of these can result in lost clients, damaged reputation, or worse.

The Solution Isn’t Just Technology. It’s a Shift in Mindset

Many firms assume their identity management software or login systems are enough. But as the CloudEagle report makes clear, traditional IAM tools were never built for the SaaS-heavy, AI-driven, hybrid environments we operate in today.

What’s needed is a move toward AI-powered, context-aware access management that automatically adjusts permissions based on usage, role changes, and risk.

This means:

  • Automatically deprovisioning accounts when someone leaves
  • Enforcing “Just-in-Time” access for sensitive systems, only when needed
  • Using AI to detect anomalies and flag risky behavior in real time

But more than tools, firms need proactive governance. That includes regular (not annual) access reviews, collaboration between IT and HR during hiring and offboarding, and clear ownership of who manages access.

What Law Firms Can Do Today

If you’re leading a legal practice and feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Most managing partners don’t want to become tech experts. They just want to sleep at night knowing their firm is secure.

Start here:

  1. Ask your IT partner how access is currently provisioned and deprovisioned.
  2. Request an access audit. Who has access to what, and why?
  3. Implement routine access reviews. Annually at a minimum, but quarterly is better.
  4. Adopt AI-based tools that can flag when employees have access they don’t need.
  5. Ensure offboarding is airtight. No one should retain access after their last day.

And finally, treat identity governance like you treat client confidentiality. Take it seriously, build in structure, and never make assumptions.

Want help creating a safer, more secure IT environment for your firm?

We specialize in making complex tech issues simple and solving them before they cost you time, money, or trust.

Let’s start with a conversation. Your firm’s reputation is worth protecting.