Network Penetration Testing for Law Firms in Seattle

 

Law firms in Seattle and across Washington State are prime targets for cybercriminals. Client files, deal documents, litigation strategy, M&A data, and privileged communications are worth more on the black market than most retail credit card dumps. Attackers know that many firms still rely on legacy systems, remote access, and a complex mix of cloud and on-premise tools – making them easier to exploit than the corporations they represent.

Common attacks against law firms in the Pacific Northwest include phishing, ransomware, credential theft, business email compromise, and targeted intrusions into document management and case management systems. These attacks are designed to quietly gain access, move laterally, and exfiltrate sensitive information before anyone notices. The average reported cost of a data breach reached $4.24M in 2021, and that does not fully capture regulatory penalties, loss of clients, or damage to a firm’s reputation for confidentiality.

For Seattle law firms, regular, independent cybersecurity testing is no longer optional. Courts, regulators, clients, and cyber insurers increasingly expect firms to demonstrate that their IT controls, remote work setups, and third-party integrations have been properly tested and hardened.

 

What Is Network Penetration Testing for Law Firms?

 

Network penetration testing is a controlled, ethical hacking exercise where security specialists simulate real-world cyberattacks against your firm’s IT environment. The objective is simple: identify the ways an attacker could actually get in, move around, and access confidential data.

For law firms in Seattle, this often means testing:

• Internet-facing systems such as VPNs, remote desktop gateways, and remote access portals used by attorneys and staff
• Internal networks that host document management systems, email, practice management, and e-discovery platforms
• Cloud services and integrations with vendors handling billing, HR, case collaboration, and client portals
• Identity and access controls, including password policies, multi-factor authentication, and privileged accounts

The results give firm leadership and managing partners a clear, non-technical view of where the firm is truly exposed, which controls are working, and where urgent remediation is needed to protect clients and maintain professional confidentiality obligations under Washington State Bar and ABA guidance.

 

Seattle & Washington State Penetration Testing Experience

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing services to law firms in Seattle and throughout Washington, from boutique practices to multi-office regional firms. Our team combines hands-on penetration testing, IT risk advisory, and cybersecurity consulting experience across regulated industries that demand strict confidentiality, including legal, financial services, and healthcare.

We understand the realities of a law firm environment: tight deadlines, heavy email reliance, complex access rights for partners and associates, external counsel relationships, and sensitive data moving across multiple systems and locations. Our approach is designed to:

• Minimize disruption to billable work while testing real-world attack scenarios
• Focus on risks that could expose client data, strategy, or privileged communications
• Support compliance with client outside counsel guidelines and cyber insurance requirements
• Provide clear, prioritized remediation guidance your IT team or managed service provider can act on

The outcome is more than a technical report. You receive actionable recommendations that strengthen your firm’s security posture, reduce the likelihood of a successful breach, and provide evidence of due diligence to clients, insurers, and auditors.

 

Our Network Penetration Testing Methodology

 

OCD Tech follows a structured, repeatable penetration testing methodology tailored to law firm environments in Seattle and Washington State. While engagements are customized to each firm’s technology stack and risk profile, a typical assessment includes:

• Passive Reconnaissance – Quietly gathering public information about the firm, its domains, exposed systems, and employees to understand what an attacker can learn without touching your network.
• Active Reconnaissance – Safely scanning your external and internal network to identify live systems, open ports, services, and configuration weaknesses.
• Social Engineering (where in scope) – Testing user awareness and susceptibility to phishing or other tactics that could be used to compromise attorney or staff accounts.
• Exploitation – Attempting to leverage discovered vulnerabilities and misconfigurations to gain initial access while maintaining agreed safety controls.
• Post-Exploitation – Assessing what an attacker could do after gaining access, including viewing or moving toward sensitive legal data and critical systems.
• Privilege Escalation – Attempting to obtain higher-level access, such as domain administrator or system administrator rights, to simulate an insider threat or advanced attacker.
• Lateral Movement – Testing how easily an attacker could move between practice groups, offices, or environments to reach crown-jewel systems such as DMS, email, or financial systems.
• Maintaining Access – Evaluating how attackers might persist in your environment over time without detection.
• Covering Tracks – Identifying where logging, monitoring, and alerting are insufficient to detect or investigate malicious activity.
• Reporting & Executive Briefing – Delivering a clear, prioritized report and, if desired, a briefing for partners or leadership that translates technical findings into business and legal risk.

This methodology allows us to perform a realistic IT security assessment while preserving the integrity of your systems and protecting client data throughout the engagement.

 

National Reach, Local Focus

 

While we work closely with law firms in the Seattle legal market and across Washington, OCD Tech also delivers network penetration testing and IT security assessments nationwide, including:

• Boston (MA)
• Chicago (IL)
• New York City (NY)
• Los Angeles (CA)
• Dallas (TX)
• Philadelphia (PA)
• Detroit (MI)
• Memphis (TN)

This national perspective gives us deep insight into the tactics threat actors use against law firms in major legal and financial centers, which we then apply to protect firms in the Seattle area.

 

Contact Our Seattle Network Penetration Testing Team

 

OCD Tech provides network penetration testing, configuration review, and broader cybersecurity consulting services to law firms in Seattle and across Washington. Whether you need a one-time penetration test, ongoing security assessments, or support in strengthening your defenses after an incident, we can help.

To discuss a penetration test tailored to your firm’s size, practice areas, and risk profile, complete the contact form below. A member of our team will follow up to review your environment, your objectives, and the level of testing appropriate for your firm.