Cybersecurity now a growing part of legal culture, IU study finds

According to a new report published this week by the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, cybersecurity is becoming an increasing part of the legal field. The report called cybersecurity "an area ripe for future growth" in both educational and professional fields, and pointed to the need to educate and train both current and future attorneys to fill a skill gap.

"Companies are hiring as fast as they can in cybersecurity," said Fred Cate, a distinguished professor of law at the Maurer School and founding director and senior fellow at IU's Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research. 

In fact, IU's study says data security is the No. 1 issue for corporate directors that "keeps them up at night." Half of all surveyed directors rated cybersecurity as a "high concern," and 91 percent of responders said they at least had some involvement with cybersecurity.

Prior reports have illustrated similar needs before, but IU's study was the first to explore the role of corporate lawyers in helping the industry prepare for and respond to cyberattacks, according to a release.

"Cybersecurity is too often thought of as merely a technological issue, when in reality, fighting cyberthreats requires a broad-based approach that includes law, economics, international relations and many other disciplines as well," Cate said.

The study also found that 70 percent of corporate law departments surveyed say they are now proactively involved with cybersecurity.