Legal services

IndustryUse cases

Legal services

Remote access

VPN replacement

Background

Firm overview

A mid-sized legal services firm based in Miami, Florida, specializing in corporate law, intellectual property, and litigation. With over 150 employees, including attorneys, paralegals, and administrative staff, the firm handles sensitive client data that requires stringent security measures.

Challenge

As the firm transitioned to a hybrid work model, ensuring secure remote access to their network became critical. Traditional VPN solutions were proving inadequate due to scalability issues, increased attack surfaces, and difficulty in managing access controls. The firm needed a robust solution to protect client data and comply with industry regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.

Solution: Software Defined Perimeter (SDP) with Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA)

To address these challenges, they implemented an SDP with ZTNA framework. This solution was designed to provide secure, granular access to applications and data, regardless of the user's location.

Key components

  1. Zero Trust framework

    • Roles are segmented by least privileges to limit lateral movement

    • Principle of "never trust, always verify" applied to all users and devices

  2. SDP

    • Isolates and secures resources by creating a virtual boundary

    • Direct peer-to-peer encrypted communications between hosts in the network segment

  3. AI provisioning: easily configures complex network configurations correctly

Implementation process

Phase 1: Assessment & planning

  • Understand the firm's critical assets, locations, and user groups requiring privileged access

  • Developed a phased installation plan based on customer timing and requirements

Phase 2: Technology integration

  • Deployed NVIS AI across the firm's network

  • Integrated with existing identity and access management systems

Phase 3: Rollout and training

  • Phased rollout to minimize disruption, starting with high-priority users

  • Trained employees on NVIS AI operation in their devices

  • Provided support and troubleshooting during the transition period

Phase 4: Validation and optimization

  • Validated connections and remote access by users

  • Changelogs and emails communicate new product versions

  • Feedback loops from employees to improve user experience

Benefits realized

Enhanced security

  • Eliminated the public attack surface, making the connection is invulnerable to outside attacks

  • Minimized risk of data breaches through micro-segmentation

Improved compliance

  • Met regulatory requirements for data protection and privacy

  • Ability to demonstrate compliance for verification and audits

Scalability & flexibility

  • Scalable solution supporting the hybrid/remote work model

  • Simplified management of access controls, even with a distributed workforce

  • Quick and simple setup without risking misconfiguration

User experience

  • Seamless and secure access for employees, improving productivity

  • Fast performance leads to higher user satisfaction

Conclusion

The firm successfully transformed their security posture by implementing NVIS AI's SDP/ZTNA solution. This strategic move not only protected sensitive client data but also facilitated a secure and efficient hybrid work environment. The firm's proactive approach to security and compliance set a benchmark for other legal service providers navigating similar challenges.

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