Six Signs You Need to Reevaluate Your Cloud Provider, 0118 COBJ, Vol. 47, No. 1 Pg. 11
| Author | JOE KELLY, J. |
| Position | Vol. 47, 1 [Page 11] |
TECHNOLOGY IN THE LAW PRACTICE
JOE KELLY, J.
Many law firms are moving services, software, and storage to the cloud—and those that haven’t started yet are probably considering it. According to the 2016 International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) Technology Purchasing Survey, “Cloud computing continues to be one of the hottest topics in legal IT.”1 Law firm respondents cited multiple benefits from the cloud, including versatility/mobility (62%), flexibility (53%), efficiencies and cost savings (34%), and security (25%).[2]
As cloud acceptance has evolved from exploration to execution, many organizations are migrating their IT and workstations fully to the cloud, shunning the need for on-site hardware, excessive IT, and physical workstation access. Yet a single bad experience or problem can negate all the benefits the cloud has to offer.
All cloud providers are not the same—especially when you migrate entirely to the cloud. The wrong provider—one that doesn’t understand the unique needs and applications required by law firms—can jeopardize productivity and drain budgets. To avoid making an expensive mistake, law firms should conduct due diligence and understand potential problems before selecting a provider, and then continue to evaluate whether the provider is meeting their needs.
Here are six signs that a cloud vendor may not be the right ft for your law firm.
1. It’s not legal-specific.
Law firms operate differently than other businesses. They face client confidentiality needs, must consider conflicts, and often have complicated billing processes. They also rely on apps that have been developed with attorneys and their clients in mind. Vendors that aren’t familiar with legal environments may be unable to host legal apps or support the ones attorneys use every day.
With so many software programs communicating with each other, it’s important to select a cloud service that can actively demonstrate knowledge around the vital legal applications needed for a practice and the unique requirements of law firms. Otherwise, workforce efficiency and data access might be hindered.
2. It’s not user-friendly.
Deadlines are a way of life in law firms, and lawyers have limited time and attention for tasks that don’t directly relate to legal matters...
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