The Blind Spots That Haunt Legal IT
Blind spots across applications, devices, and networks silently erode performance, compliance, and confidence in legal IT. For network and security leaders, these blind spots are more than technical gaps; they’re direct threats to resilience, data protection, and client trust.
Shadow AI is already inside your firm. And if you can’t see it, you can’t secure it.
In a recent survey, Udacity’s team explored the evolving landscape of AI adoption by asking 2000 professionals (including those in the legal sector) if they used AI. Unsurprisingly, over 90% of respondents said they did. More concerning, 72% of managers reported personally paying out of pocket for AI tools to use at work, introducing uncontrolled risk into corporate environments. Great for productivity, not so great for security
As CTOs, we’re tasked not just with enabling technology but with ensuring it serves the business reliably, securely, and transparently. In the legal sector, that mandate is amplified by regulatory scrutiny, client expectations, and the unforgiving economics of billable time.
The Legal Sector’s Visibility Crisis
Legal IT environments are notoriously complex. Case management systems, secure collaboration platforms, productivity suites, and now, increasingly, AI tools like Copilot, ChatGPT, and unsanctioned AI apps brought in by users all compete for attention and bandwidth. Yet many firms operate with fragmented monitoring, leaving critical blind spots for Shadow AI.
These gaps aren’t just technical nuisances; they’re strategic risks. They undermine compliance with SRA principles, GDPR obligations, and internal standards like Lexcel, COLP, and COFA. For IT leaders, this creates an unacceptable lack of oversight.
Managed DEX: Seeing What Matters
Teneo’s Managed DEX solution was designed to address these exact challenges. It’s not just another monitoring tool; it’s a strategic visibility platform that transforms how legal IT operates, offering:
- Complete Visibility: Across applications, devices, and networks with dashboards that show what users actually experience.
- Shadow AI Accountability: Identify, measure, and govern AI usage before it creates compliance or reputational risk.
- Billable Time Protection: Spot and resolve performance issues before they impact client service.
- Smarter Operations: Move from reactive firefighting to proactive prevention, with AI-powered runbooks and monthly insights.
- Client Confidence: Deliver seamless digital experiences that reinforce trust and professionalism.
From the darkness to enlightenment
In a recent observability planning session with a legal customer, we discussed how Managed DEX dashboards can now track AI tool usage by URL and application behavior, flag unsanctioned tools, and correlate device health with productivity metrics. This gave the firm’s IT leadership complete visibility into previously hidden risk, turning uncertainty into actionable insight. This was not just helpful for the customer, it was transformative.
Final Thought
Legal firms can’t outsource accountability, but they can eliminate blind spots. With Managed DEX, IT leaders gain the clarity to see risks, the confidence to secure their environment, and the freedom to design boldly for the future.
Stop guessing. Start seeing. Book a consultation to explore Managed DEX today.
Author: Brett Ayres, CTO, Teneo