Network Penetration Testing for Law Firms in Detroit (MI)

 

Law firms in Detroit and across Michigan are prime targets for cybercriminals. Client files, M&A documents, litigation strategies, IP portfolios, and trust accounting data are all highly marketable on the dark web. Attackers use techniques such as phishing, ransomware, credential theft, malware, and targeted network attacks to gain access to this information, often without being detected for months.

The financial impact is significant. In 2021, the average reported cost of a data breach reached $4.24 million (source), and that does not fully reflect the reputational damage, bar association scrutiny, and potential malpractice exposure that come with a breach at a law firm. For firms handling automotive, manufacturing, financial services, or healthcare matters in the Detroit metro area, the stakes are even higher due to the sensitivity of client industries.

To manage this risk, firms need to regularly test, validate, and improve their cybersecurity controls. Firewalls and antivirus tools are not enough; you need to know how your environment holds up against the same tactics a real attacker would use.

 

What Is Network Penetration Testing for Law Firms?

 

Network penetration testing (often called a “pentest”) is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security professionals simulate real-world attacks against your firm’s IT infrastructure. This typically includes:

• Internal networks (on-premise systems, file servers, document management platforms, practice management systems, time and billing tools)

• Cloud services (Microsoft 365, email, collaboration tools, case management platforms hosted in the cloud)

• Remote access (VPNs, remote desktops, portals used by attorneys, staff, and sometimes clients or experts)

The goal is to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do, safely exploit them under controlled conditions, and provide clear guidance to fix the issues. For law firms, penetration testing supports:

• Client and matter confidentiality (attorney–client privilege and work product protection)

• Regulatory and ethical obligations (ABA and State Bar cybersecurity expectations, contractual requirements from corporate clients)

• Insurance and compliance (cyber insurance underwriting, data protection clauses in outside counsel guidelines)

Done correctly, a pentest gives firm leadership a realistic view of risk, instead of a false sense of security based solely on policies or checklists.

 

Michigan & Detroit Law Firm Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to law firms in Detroit and throughout Michigan, from boutique practices to large multi-office firms. Our team has extensive experience in:

• IT security assessments for firms handling sensitive litigation, transaction, employment, and regulatory matters

• Configuration reviews of document management systems, email security, and remote access used by partners and associates

• Insider threat and assumed-compromise testing to see what happens if a workstation, paralegal account, or vendor access is taken over

We combine deep technical expertise with a practical understanding of law firm operations—billable hours, client deadlines, and courtroom schedules. Testing is planned to minimize disruption while still being realistic and thorough. The result is not just a list of vulnerabilities, but clear, prioritized remediation steps your IT team or managed service provider can actually implement.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable methodology aligned with industry best practices. Each engagement is tailored to the specific environment and risk profile of the firm, but typically includes:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering information about your public footprint (domains, email records, exposed services) without touching internal systems.

• Active Reconnaissance – Safely scanning and probing your external and internal network to identify live systems, services, and potential entry points.

• Social Engineering (where in scope) – Targeted phishing simulations or other techniques to test how easily attackers could trick attorneys and staff into granting access or disclosing credentials.

• Exploitation – Attempting to exploit identified weaknesses to gain access, using the same techniques real attackers rely on, but in a controlled and documented manner.

• Post-Exploitation – Determining what an attacker could do once inside: access matter files, client data, email, or practice management systems.

• Privilege Escalation – Testing whether a compromised standard user account (for example, a staff workstation) can be escalated to administrator or domain-level access.

• Lateral Movement – Evaluating how easily an attacker can move from one system to another, such as from a compromised laptop to file servers or document management systems.

• Maintaining Access – Assessing how attackers could persist in your environment over time if not detected.

• Covering Tracks – Reviewing log visibility and monitoring to understand whether suspicious activity would be noticed by your IT or security team.

• Reporting & Executive Briefing – Delivering a clear report with risk ratings, technical details, and business-focused explanations, followed by a debrief tailored to partners, management committees, and IT leadership.

This methodology supports Red Team, Blue Team, and Purple Team style exercises, depending on how closely you want to involve your internal IT or security teams during testing.

 

National Reach, Local Understanding

 

While we have a strong presence in the Detroit and Michigan legal market, OCD Tech also performs network penetration testing for organizations across the U.S., including:

• Boston (MA)

• New York City (NY)

• Washington DC

• Philadelphia (PA)

• Dallas (TX)

• Los Angeles (CA)

• Chicago (IL)

• Baltimore (MD)

This broader experience allows us to bring best practices from leading law firms and corporate legal departments nationwide back to firms in Detroit and Southeast Michigan.

 

Contact Our Detroit Network Penetration Testing Consultants

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing and cybersecurity consulting for law firms in Detroit and across Michigan. If you would like to discuss a penetration test, IT security assessment, or a focused review of your remote access and document management security, please complete the form below. A member of our team will contact you to review your environment, your risk profile, and the most appropriate testing approach for your firm.