The Evolution of Managed Detection

In 2024, IT services became the largest line item in the average enterprise IT budget, with cybersecurity services accounting for a significant portion, according to Gartner research. Rising threat volumes, sophisticated attack vectors, stringent compliance requirements, and increasing incident costs are driving law firms to increase their investment in cybersecurity. Nevertheless, simply expanding the cybersecurity budget alone is not enough.

Expectations for cybersecurity providers are rising as law firms regularly rely on these partners to protect the firm’s IT infrastructure and core business strategy, including client confidentiality and operational continuity. This shift raises a critical question: what should law firms expect from their cybersecurity solution providers?

Managed detection and response (MDR) is a cornerstone of cybersecurity services. Traditional MDR focuses on endpoint and network threats, reacting only after an alert is triggered, often when attackers are already entrenched. In today’s threat landscape, where adversaries exploit stolen OAuth tokens, unmanaged SaaS applications, or cloud trust relationships, this reactive approach is insufficient.

A New Era for Cybersecurity

Digital transformation, driven by hybrid work, cloud adoption, and artificial intelligence, has made IT central to legal firms. At the same time, this expanded digital estate, including unmonitored devices, legacy systems, and third-party SaaS platforms, widens the firm’s attack surface. Sophisticated attackers, including state-sponsored groups, leverage automation and lateral movement across cloud APIs to bypass traditional defense systems.

In response, law firms are redefining MDR: not abandoning it but evolving it into a comprehensive strategy that protects all assets against all threats at all times. This shift also includes consolidating security services for greater efficiency and protection.

Next-Gen MDR

Managed extended detection and response (MXDR) is designed to defend the entire attack surface. It integrates:

• User and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to detect identity misuse across cloud and on-premises environments.
• Network traffic analysis (NTA) to identify lateral movement in complex networks.
• Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) to accelerate response and reduce dwell time.
• Threat intelligence combining internal and external signals for proactive defense.
• Telemetry normalization across endpoints, cloud platforms, and APIs for high-fidelity alerts.

MXDR platforms continuously monitor diverse data sources, leveraging automation to deliver context-rich, prioritized alerts, enabling faster and more effective responses.

Stopping Attacks Before They Start

Leading firms are incorporating offensive security into their MDR programs to identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Some commonly employed strategies are:

• Attack surface management (ASM) to monitor exposed assets.
• Penetration testing and red teaming to simulate real-world attacks.
• Breach and attack simulations (BAS) to validate response readiness.
• Cloud misconfiguration analysis to prevent data exposure and privilege escalation.
• Shadow IT discovery to uncover unsanctioned applications.

Strategic Partnerships

With new threats, regulations, and technologies emerging constantly, the traditional focus on alerts and incident response from MDRs no longer meets the needs of cutting-edge law firms. Instead, firms are looking for solution providers who offer dynamic advisory services like accessible support from teams of dedicated experts, compliance guidance with frameworks like ISO 27001, NIST, and ABA Model Rules, and regular threat landscape reviews. This type of collaboration transforms providers into strategic partners, helping firms navigate compliance, technology shifts, and business priorities in real time.

Cybersecurity as a Strategic Imperative

For legal firms, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT function; it is a strategic pillar supporting reputation, resilience, and revenue. The right approach can position firms ahead of attackers and in compliance with regulations, while the wrong one risks everything.

Firms must demand more from their cybersecurity partners: not just tools, but a unified strategy integrating detection, offensive security, and dynamic advisory. By choosing a trusted partner who aligns with their business goals, legal firms can stay secure in an increasingly complex and threatening digital world.