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Case Study: IT Crisis Recovery and Modernization for a South Florida Law Firm

Executive Summary
When a South Florida law firm specializing in construction law lost its long-time IT consulting team, it found itself locked out of its own systems and facing significant operational risk. TrustPoint Cyber was brought in to regain control of the firm’s IT infrastructure, modernize outdated systems, and implement security measures to protect sensitive client and case data.

The engagement began under urgent circumstances, escalated through a ransomware breach caused by initial resistance to adopting security best practices, and ultimately resulted in a secure, modern IT environment capable of supporting the firm’s ongoing operations and growth.

 

Firm Background
A South Florida Law firm, specializing in construction law, the firm manages sensitive client contracts, litigation records, and financial documents—making data confidentiality and system availability essential to daily operations.


Phase 1: Emergency IT Takeover

 

The Challenge
The firm’s long-time IT consulting firm left, leaving no documented administrative credentials for the servers, domain controller, or network infrastructure. The firm was effectively locked out of critical systems and unable to perform even basic administrative functions.

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TrustPoint Cyber’s Response
Trust Point Cyber leveraged advanced technical expertise to gain administrative access to the firm’s domain controller. This “ethical hack” was performed in compliance with the firm’s authorization and legal requirements, and it enabled TrustPoint Cyber to:

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  •  Restore administrative control over the network

  • Assess the current infrastructure and security posture

  • Begin a structured takeover of IT management


Phase 2: Modernizing the Infrastructure

 

The Challenge
The assessment revealed outdated servers, aging network hardware, and minimal security controls. These systems not only created operational inefficiencies but also increased the risk of data loss and security breaches.

 

The Solution

TrustPoint Cyber implemented a comprehensive modernization plan:

  •  Server upgrades — Replaced legacy hardware with modern, reliable servers running current operating systems

  • Network hardware refresh — Installed business-grade switches, routers, and firewalls

  • Data protection — Improved backup systems and ensured redundancy for critical legal case files

  • Foundation for security upgrades — Designed infrastructure to support advanced security measures such as Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

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Phase 3: Security Incident — Ransomware Breach
The Incident
Despite repeated recommendations to adopt defensive security measures, the firm initially resisted implementing ZTNA, MFA, and other advanced protections. This left them vulnerable to remote exploitation.

Several months after the IT takeover, the firm was breached remotely and infected with ransomware, which encrypted critical data and temporarily halted operations.


Incident Response

  • TrustPoint Cyber executed an immediate incident response plan:

  • Isolation — Contained the affected systems to prevent further spread

  • Remediation — Removed the ransomware and restored data from secure backups

  • Root Cause Analysis — Identified the breach vector and confirmed it was preventable with previously recommended security measures

 

Phase 4: Security Transformation

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Following the breach, the firm agreed to implement the full security stack recommended by TrustPoint Cyber:

  • Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) — Restricted access to only verified users and devices

  •  Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — Strengthened account protection against credential theft


Results

  • Restored control over all systems after loss of IT consultant

  • Modernized infrastructure with up-to-date servers and network hardware

  • Recovered from ransomware with minimal permanent data loss due to reliable backups

  • Dramatically improved security posture, reducing the likelihood of future breaches

  • Operational stability for a law firm handling sensitive, high-value legal matters


Conclusion
TrustPoint Cyber’s intervention not only restored control to a law firm in crisis but also modernized its IT environment and secured it against evolving cyber threats. While the ransomware breach was a costly lesson in the importance of proactive security, it ultimately catalyzed the adoption of a defense-in-depth strategy—ensuring that the firm’s sensitive client data is now better protected than ever.
 



 

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