Law Offices
Professional secrecy isn't just a disciplinary rule anymore, combined with GDPR, it translates into specific technical measures.
Legislation
Establishes absolute professional secrecy. Combined with GDPR Article 32, this disciplinary duty becomes a legal requirement for encryption, access control, secure backup, and audit logging.
Electronic filing with the Court of Audit has been mandatory since 16 September 2023, requiring a recognized electronic signature. Civil/criminal courts run through ΟΣΔΔΥ-ΠΠ/solon.gov.gr.
Lawyers are "obliged entities" with a 5-year record-keeping duty for KYC and suspicious-transaction reporting, a retention obligation that maps directly onto encrypted long-term backup.
Requires a documented capability to restore client data in the event of loss or an incident.
Recovery design
In a law office, a correct restore must protect privilege while bringing back matters with active procedural deadlines first.
Pleadings, evidence, correspondence, and the matter calendar should recover as a coherent set, with priority given to imminent filings and hearings.
Files should not be restored to a shared location without their original permissions. Restricted matters, criminal files, and third-party data require controlled access and logging.
The final signed document, filing receipt, and submitted version should be retained together. Signing private keys are not treated as ordinary backup files.
Enforcement
Two cases relevant to your sector:
Fine against an individual lawyer for failing to return a client's file and refusing to cooperate (GDPR Articles 15 + 31).
Fine against a law firm for unlawful video surveillance.
Practical answers
Pleadings, evidence, correspondence, notes, and deadline records should return from a compatible point in time. Restoring one document is not enough when the remaining versions or matter activity can no longer be tied to it.
No. Encryption protects the backup copy, while professional secrecy also requires correct scope, matter-level restrictions, and a controlled restore process. Permissions at the restore destination are part of the design.
That depends on the application's export functions, contract, and recovery model. Provider availability does not always mean the firm can restore a specific older version or export the complete matter. The application should be assessed separately from local folders.
The Fix
Sources
Related professions
Each profession has a different working file, access model, and recovery order.
Contact
Two simple ways to get started. Pick whichever feels right, both reach me directly.
Option 1, Fastest
Pick a time that suits you. I'll review your backup setup, answer service questions, and explain what ArvaSafe can address, no obligation.
Booking is provided by Google Calendar. Opening it sends technical information to Google.
Option 2, Send details
Prefer email? Tell me a bit about your business and what you need. I reply within 1 business day with a written quote.
