The 7 Biggest Cybersecurity Risks Facing Australian Law Firms in 2025

Australian law firms are under growing pressure from cyber threats as adversaries become more sophisticated, and client trust rests on robust defences. According to a 2024 survey of 140 firms, 81% have been targeted by phishing, marking a 14% year-on-year rise, while overall cyberattack attempts increased to 21%, up 7% nationally. Over half (56%) cited cybersecurity as their most significant operational concern.

Here are the seven biggest cybersecurity risks facing law firms in 2025, and how OPTML equips firms to handle them.

Phishing & Business Email Compromise (BEC)

Phishing remains the dominant threat; 81% ofAustralian law firms were targeted in 2024. Business Email Compromise, powered by AI-generated impersonations, is rising; Australia has seen a 7% year-on-year increase, with sophisticated scams costing victims on average  $200,000. These attacks prey on trust and are often hard to detect.

OPTML’s Solution: Deploy AI Email Screening to detect and block BEC and phishing attempts using AI-driven behavioural analysis

Ransomware & Data Encryption Threats

Though specific law firm ransomware stats are limited, global trends show rising frequency and demands, and average ransoms soared to US $5.2 million in 2024. Ransomware can disrupt access to critical documents and client files.

OPTML’s Solution: Implement CipherTrust Manager for data encryption and robust key management, making sensitive information unusable to attackers.

Day-to-Day Cyber-Attack Attempts

Recent reports reveal attacks occur about every six minutes in Australian legal firms’ networks, From malware to spoofing, the relentless pace strains firms’ detection capability

OPTML’s Solution: Deploy comprehensive SaaS Backup via Arcserve to ensure rapid recovery and business continuity if systems fail.

Weak Cyber Preparedness & Resource Constraints

In the 2023 AUCloud/ALPMA study, 53% of firms rated cybersecurity as their top operational challenge. Talent shortages (48%) and limited budgets (35%) further complicate firm readiness

OPTML’s Approach: Provide tailored advisory support, secure 365 migration, and training, bridging gaps in capability with expert strategy and implementation.

Regulatory Pressure & Client Expectations

Clients increasingly expect robust cyber resilience,US data suggests 40% would consider terminating services after a breach, and 37% would pay a premium for stronger protection. Meanwhile, Australia’s privacy laws (e.g. Notifiable Data Breaches Act) impose legal obligations for breach reporting.

OPTML’s Response: Equip firms with Certificate Lifecycle Management (Entrust Certificate Hub) and Digital Signing Solutions (SigningHub) to secure communications and demonstrate compliance.

Geopolitical Cyber Threat Escalation

Geo-political tensions have raised Australia’s cyber threat level from “low” to “moderate,” with SMEs, like midsize law firms, particularly vulnerable. Recent attacks include DDoS, defacements, and hack-and-leak campaigns by foreign actors.

OPTML’s solution: Combine secure 365 cloud infrastructure, offsite storage like Wasabi, and encryption to build resilience against external, politically-driven cyber threats.

Human Error & Knowledge Leakage

Human error contributes to over 90% of security breaches globally, from poor password hygiene to sending sensitive documents to the wrong party. Knowledge leakage via mobile or cloud devices adds further risk; each breach costs Australian firms an average of $4.2 million to investigate.

OPTML’s Defence: Implement multi-factor authentication, staff training, and Wasabi Hot Storage with immutability to prevent accidental or malicious data loss.

In 2025, Australian law firms must remain vigilant and proactive in the face of escalating cyber threats. From phishing and ransomware to regulatory demands and geopolitical risks, the cyber landscape demands more than basic defences; it calls for a layered, law-sector-savvy approach.

OPTML’s suite of cyber solutions, ranging from secure Microsoft 365 migration, Abnormal AI email screening, and Arcserve SaaS backups to Wasabi storage, CipherTrust, Entrust certificates, and SigningHub, gives firms the peace of mind they need to operate securely, compliantly, and with client trust at the forefront.