Dispelling Doubt and Uncertainty over Questions of Data Security

Headquartered in Leigh, Lancashire and with four regional offices, Stephensons Solicitors is among the top 100 legal firms in the UK, employing more than 300 fee-earning professionals. The practice has, over time, developed an enviable reputation for providing a broad range of exceptional customer services and, increasingly, customers expect these services to be provided online.  These days, digital document exchange and email correspondence are routine daily practice for many customers. Equally, product research and information requests are frequently being conducted online. All of which makes managing safe, secure Internet usage and permission-controlled network access an absolute cornerstone in the firm’s thinking and its preparation for the future.

Stephensons Solicitors create huge amounts of data, business intelligence and client information on a daily basis. Carefully controlled backup procedures are essential. Everything must be stored safely, archived correctly and accessed easily, at any time, from a multiplicity of sources and a complex string of requests operating both on and off-site. Data security is absolutely critical.

“Data security is not an area where we can allow compromise,” commented Geoff Clarke, IT Manager, Stephensons Solicitors. “We have an excellent relationship with JMC who designed and installed our IT network and their solution to our demanding security needs has proved highly effective, robust and reliable.”

To cope with their security requirements JMC designed and implemented a multi-tiered security solution using multi-vendor products.  The primary component is a Cisco PIX firewall which covers five essential areas necessary to optimise network security: Identity, Perimeter Security, Secure Connectivity, Security Monitoring and Security Policy Management. Cisco PIX firewalls deliver unprecedented levels of security, performance and reliability. They provide robust, enterprise-class security services and are designed to meet the needs of today’s businesses whose knowledge workers, staff, executives, management and operations personnel increasingly demand round the clock internet access both on and offsite to confidential company material, data, files and information.  The robustness, reliability and stability of Cisco PIX firewalls have earned industry-wide recognition, which is reflected in the award of the industry’s highest standards of security certification.

In addition to Cisco PIX firewalls, Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) 2004 server software has also been deployed enabling the system’s network security control to detect many threats that other firewalls cannot.

“In terms of attempting to gain access through this security arrangement we’ve made life particularly difficult for any hacker,” commented Tim Maxwell, Business Development Director, JMC. “We’ve put different kinds of protective structures in place, operating at varying levels, from more than one vendor. None are easy to break and working together they present a formidable obstacle. Anyone mounting an external attack would find the task immeasurably challenging.“ 

“The Internet is a principal business tool,” affirmed Geoff Clarke. “We have to respect it and manage efficient use of it. Our clients and partners demand that their confidential information remains just that - confidential. We accept that we have to do all we can to protect it and our long term IT partner, JMC, has once again ‘delivered the goods’.”

The net gain for Stephensons Solicitors has been an improved additional capacity to progress and process work with speed and accuracy. Added to which the firm has improved its ability to service online customer interaction quicker than ever before. Security checks no longer present bottlenecks, or threaten system overload and possible shut down, or customer shut out. As a result, transaction times are faster, business control is better and the practice is offering even better levels of customer service. Above all, the firm’s data is strongly protected by the highest possible levels of system security.

“We feel entirely confident that our data is now protected by strong, multi-layered inbound and outbound defences. These allow us to give our customers the reassurances that they require. We also have good management of customer response times and our staff are able to work quickly and professionally to provide the level of customer service on which our reputation is built,” Geoff Clarke concluded.

Stephensons Solicitors is meeting its customers’ needs by providing the highest possible levels of security and delivering satisfying online experiences for customer interaction assisted by consummate levels of business control.