Whether or not you should have outside counsel in the event of a cybersecurity event depends on a number of factors, including:

The size and complexity of the incident: For a minor incident, your in-house legal team may be able to handle the situation. However, for a larger or more complex incident, you may need the additional expertise and resources of outside counsel. Your in-house legal team's expertise: If your in-house legal team has experience with cybersecurity issues, they may be able to handle the incident without outside help. However, if they do not have the necessary expertise, you may need to bring in outside counsel. The potential legal implications of the incident: If the incident has the potential to result in significant legal liability, you will likely want to have outside counsel involved. Your budget: Hiring outside counsel can be expensive. You will need to weigh the cost of outside counsel against the potential benefits.

There are a number of potential benefits to having outside counsel involved in a cybersecurity event, including:

• Expertise: Outside counsel can provide expert legal advice and guidance specific to cybersecurity issues.

• Resources: Outside counsel can provide additional resources, such as investigators and forensic experts, which can be helpful in responding to an incident.

• Objectivity: Outside counsel can provide an objective and independent perspective on the situation.

• Privilege: In some jurisdictions, communications with outside counsel may be privileged, which can help to protect sensitive information.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to having outside counsel involved, including:

• Cost: Hiring outside counsel can be expensive.

• Time: It may take time to find and retain outside counsel, which can delay the response to an incident.

• Control: When you involve outside counsel, you are giving up some control over the situation.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to have outside counsel involved in a cybersecurity event is a business decision that should be made on a case-by-case basis. It is important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks carefully before making a decision.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): https://www.cisa.gov/

• The Ponemon Institute: https://www.ponemon.org/