Peer to Peer Magazine

35 WWW.ILTANET.ORG RFP responses where assurances are given for secure data management practices. This article will focus on security certifications. There are numerous privacy certifications available, and many of the same considerations outlined here apply to the selection of a privacy certification. Certifications As Competitive Advantage According to the 2017 report "Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Practice Overview" from BTI Consulting Group, "cybersecurity and data privacy is the fastest growing segment of outside counsel spending and the biggest issue keeping clients awake at night." Law departments must ensure that all their vendors, including law firms, know how to keep their data secure, particularly global companies required to comply with the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation. Certifications are a fast and relatively inexpensive way to upskill, demonstrate competence and signal commitment to areas of expertise. Executive leadership has more confidence in professionals who hold these security certifications, which help firms win business and law departments manage risk. Ediscovery professionals with security certifications are beer positioned to remain relevant in current and future positions. Security Certifications As "Wins" in the Cyberthreat Environment Information security skills are in higher demand today than at any other time due to the cost associated with human error or aack. As certified ediscovery professionals already know, knowledge, experience and skills are sometimes not enough to convince peers and clients of your expertise. You need the solid evidence of competence that a certification provides. Cyber-related job openings on LinkedIn outnumber ediscovery job openings 20 to 1, and there is virtually zero percent unemployment in cybersecurity. This unprecedented career opportunity tells a powerful story: there is compelling evidence that for ediscovery professionals interested in the future arc of their careers, retraining to expand skill sets in these areas is becoming compulsory. Certifications As Client and Stakeholder Confidence Builders Our firm represents clients in highly regulated industries, many of whom have been conducting regular on-premises security audits for the past eight years. These clients were focused on security even before they zeroed in on ediscovery practices and are more concerned today than ever before. Law departments expect their law firms to have excellent security hygiene and expect that same excellence from all downstream vendors who touch their data. Legal professionals must pursue cyber education and certifications as evidence of a minimum skill set in security or privacy. In response to client expectations, our firm encourages the pursuit of the Certified Ediscovery Specialist certification (CEDS) created by the Association of Certified Ediscovery Specialists (ACEDS) for litigation support professionals who handle ediscovery. More recently we have encouraged training and certifications related to security, Cyber Security Protection (CSPC) and Cyber Intelligence (CIC) training and certifications offered by Cybint Solutions, a BARBRI Professional Association; the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) offered by the EC-Council; and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) created by (ISC)2. These certifications add credibility to Cyber Certifications: Future-Proofing for the Ediscovery Professional FEATURES When we work with clients or industry groups on topics related to the maturation of ediscovery practice and professionals, invariably the "what's next?" part of the conversation flows into data privacy and security. Baseline competence in these areas is now table stakes, and well-rounded ediscovery pros are adding rigorous privacy and cybersecurity certifications to validate the bona fides of their teams. Certifications are a fast and relatively inexpensive way to upskill, demonstrate competence and signal commitment to areas of expertise. JANICE JACO Janice Jaco, ACEDS 2015 eDiscovery Person of the Year, is a senior eDiscovery Project Manager for boutique litigation powerhouse Keesal, Young & Logan. Janice's professional volunteer work includes extensive involvement in authoring LTC4's eDiscovery Core Competency, participation in ACEDS' CEDS Exam Standard Setting Exercise, and updating ACEDS' University online content. Janice is currently a member of ILTA's Litigation & Practice Support Content Team and recently completed the BARBRI Cybint courses in Cyber Protection and Intelligence.

• Cover