October, 2017 | Article
The Changing Landscape for Legal IT
The IT landscape for law firms is changing. Today’s clients expect greater responsiveness, transparency, and cost-efficiency. To meet these shifting expectations, law firms need to ensure their technology is also evolving. The fundamental choice that law firms are faced with is: switching to the cloud, or re-investing in their in-house IT.
The model of in-house IT was always a compromise. The business of law firms is law, not IT. In-house models require law firms to buy, implement, and maintain expensive IT networks. The result is often unreliable systems with unpredictable costs that hamper the delivery of current client service requirements.
The advent of cloud technology promised an end to the inefficiencies and high costs of on-site systems. Cloud IT has now become the standard for law firms in Canada because it not only solves the problems of in-house IT, but also delivers a multitude of benefits that can’t be duplicated with the old model.
Let’s take a closer look at what the cloud can bring to your firm.
Eliminate Capital Expenditures
Unlike owning an in-house IT system, Cloud IT eliminates the need to make significant capital expenditures in server equipment. All IT infrastructure is owned and managed by the cloud provider, including all the costs for upgrades and maintenance. You retain ownership of your most important asset – your data – while avoiding the costs of running expensive equipment. All you need is a connection and a device, and the rest is taken care of.
No More Interruptions
Nothing is more frustrating than interruptions when deadlines are looming. Whereas in-house servers are susceptible to slow performance, breakage, and malware, a Cloud IT network is designed for consistency and reliability. World-class data centres give you stable, standardized systems, high uptime, and superior virus protection. In addition, your data is monitored and maintained by experts who proactively protect the integrity of the system. This combination of better technology and expertise makes the cloud model inherently more stable, and therefore, less likely to cause annoying interruptions.
Works With Your Apps
Cloud IT is designed for compatibility with existing applications. You can check a precedent, delegate a task, or view a limitation date, all while on the go. You get the best of both worlds: high performance cloud technology, and compatibility with your existing applications. You can move your current software to the cloud and continue to use the apps your firm relies on like PC Law, ACL, Primafact, Time Matters and MS Office.
Simple Monthly Fee
Cloud IT providers offer risk-free payment models which allow you to take control of your IT budget. A predictable monthly fee with everything included means costs are always clear. Because maintenance and fixes are the responsibility of your cloud provider, you assume zero financial risk. When your firm needs to grow, the cloud offers easy scalability and built-in capacity at a predictable, incremental cost.
Work From Anywhere
Cloud IT solutions work everywhere you have an Internet connection. Access to your complete desktop provides everything from full client files, to legal applications. Simply log on to a secure desktop in any location you have a connection, on your laptop (yes, even Macs), tablet, or phone. Built for remote access, you can work seamlessly off-site and between multiple offices. It’s like taking your office with you wherever you go.
Secure Your Practice
Security threats are varied and ever-changing. Applying security patches, updating virus definitions, and maintaining firewalls is time-consuming and error-prone. Cloud IT provides a superior level of protection including power redundancy, fire suppression, and 24-7 physical security. Best of all, specialists test, monitor, and upgrade all software patches and virus protection to provide the most up-to-date, secure systems. This level of data defense is not possible with in-house systems.
The New IT Standard
Cloud IT has become the new standard for law firms. The arguments are in: trade capital expenditures for a simple monthly fee, server downtime for high reliability, and IT hassles for a legal expert provider.