Knowing the Facts from the Emerging Cloud Computing Myths

It is quite ironic that in the information age, one of the greatest hindrances in fully utilizing the technology is the lack of information or misinformation.

There are many myths about law practice and cloud computing that have been taken as truth simply because of skepticism.  As a result, many law firms and their clients are deprived of the benefits that management technology delivers.  Here are some myths that can be cleared up.

Cloud is Expensive

There is a belief that using Cloud computing is more expensive compared to the traditional way of handling legal matters.  Yes, it is true that there is a monthly fee that needs to be paid for using Cloud services, but this payment evens out in terms of the advantages that it presents.

Traditionally, a law firm would have to invest in IT software and hardware components that aside from the upfront cost would require budget allocation for maintenance and upgrade.  There is also the issue of hiring IT professionals and the additional cost of training them to ensure that they are updated on the latest technologies that can be useful for your firm.  Put it all together and you are looking at a substantially large amount of investment, which pales in comparison to the price you pay for cloud services.

When you subscribe with a cloud provider, you do away with the costly upfront cost, maintenance fees, and upgrade expenses. You do not need to hire additional IT practitioners or train them since everything will be handled by the cloud provider with the personnel included in the monthly fee you are paying.  So in the end, you are not only subscribing to a more cost-effective solution, but also ensuring lesser consequences for data corruption and infiltration.

Cloud is Less Secure

The issue of security always seems to crop up when it comes to cloud computing.  Apparently, there is a perception that stored paper documents are more secured than digitally saved ones.

Are you aware that the security levels implemented in cloud computing comes in different levels?  This means that rights and privileges are assigned to every user to make sure that they can only access documents that they are authorized to.  Unlike with stored paper documents, when you open the filing cabinet, you already gain access to anything and everything that is in there.

Now, it is worth mentioning that not all cloud providers are equal.  This is where those in the legal profession can make good use of their skills and talents to find out which provider can deliver the best services based on the needs of their firm.  You also have to take note that with cloud computing, files are stored on remote servers that are more difficult to access than local servers in your office.

The files are also safer because regardless what happens to your physical office, the data remains intact; unlike with paper documents that can be gutted when fire breaks out or damaged by water when a pipe bursts.

Data Retrieval

Will you ever get your data back once you send it into the cloud?  That depends; you need to be aware that cloud providers may set a particular timeframe when data retrieval remains possible.  This means that after the termination of the service agreement you will only be given a certain time to retrieve your data, otherwise it may be gone forever.

So again, we go back to the ability and reputation of the cloud provider that you choose, specific to the needs of your firm.  If you truly are concerned about data retrieval, then you should take precautions by automatically downloading copies or backing up the data you have stored in the cloud.  The great news is that syncing information takes little effort and rarely requires additional manpower.

If you are still having second thoughts about cloud computing technology, hopefully clearing up these myths have given you a better picture.

Contact NexStep, a reliable cloud computing providers for small to medium law firms which gives lawyers the maximum benefits of high security system in storing and accessing their important data easily.