Law firms have been outsourcing legal work for decades. However, with today’s cresting cybersecurity concerns, outsourcing endeavors seem riskier than ever. Legal outsourcing options have broadened to include offshoring, nearshoring, and building out internal captive consulting firms. However, though outsourcing offers many efficiencies, each brings its own security challenges that must be locked down for risk management, client protection and compliance purposes.

Law firm IT, legal administrators and managing or technology partners must be vigilant around security issues when deciding to outsource legal work. Here are five core principles of security across various forms of legal outsourcing which can help guide firms to a low-risk, security-assured status.