MAYER BROWN — EMAIL REGARDING WEBMAIL PROGRAMS
Over the last year, we have seen a spike in audits of our IT system by our top clients, as privacy and data confidentiality continue to be matters of high priority for all businesses. Such client audits typically result in client “Findings” followed by requests that the Firm make changes to its IT environment or practices. One of the repeated demands by our clients is that we prevent our users from accessing Webmail programs (Gmail, AOL, Yahoo, Comcast…) through our network.
In general, there are two reasons for that insistence. First, accessing Webmail programs through our network enables client and firm data to leave the Firm without tracking. Second, Webmail programs can be the vehicle for the introduction of malware into the Firm’s network. This is not a hypothetical risk: our IT team reports that that has occurred in the Mayer Brown network.
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As a result of these well-founded client requests, and following a thorough review by our IT staff and the Information Technology Oversight Committee, effective June 4our network will not permit users to access Webmail programs through the network.
Two points of clarification are in order. First, if any Mayer Brown user has a genuine client-related need to access Webmail accounts through the network, please contact Robert Drawer in Chicago. Second, some Firm personnel might have genuine, non-business reasons to check a Webmail program while at work – to check on a family member through a personal email account, for example. The wireless guest net will still be available for users who need to access Webmail accounts though a mobile device (because that type of access does not pose the threats described above to the Firm’s network).
Earlier: You’ve Got (No) Mail! Major Law Firm Blocks Employee Email Access