What Your Law Practice Will Gain with Cloud Computing
How long do you think you can hold on before your law firm get into the age of technology? Not too long certainly. Many law firms that previously had reservations about technology in the legal industry are now finding out just how much benefit it can deliver in terms of tapering costs, enhancing performance, and improving client relationship.
So if you are still not sure what your law firm will gain with cloud computing, look at these 3 reasons:
1. Options
What options are available to you? Regardless whether your law firm uses computers simply for encoding data, it will eventually have to upgrade its operating system and applications. Many of the backward law firms are still using old operating system that have lost its efficiency as well as support from its manufacturer. This is a danger sign because it opens up computer systems to virtual and physical attacks.
In terms of software applications, many law firms are missing out on newer features because they fail to upgrade. The process of upgrading operating system, applications, and hardware will be time consuming and expensive.
This is why the option of using cloud computing becomes so viable. For a small fee, you eliminate the worries of upgrading and maintenance including technical manpower needs.
2. Security
Why should you go into the cloud? Ask yourself, how secure is your office server? The reality is that your office server is at risk both physically and virtually. Why? When your office building burns down, gets flooded, or whatever calamity hits, the probability is that your documents and clients’ files will be destroyed.
With cloud computing, documents and clients’ files are stored in different servers that are normally in different geographical locations. This means that you will always have a way of recovering your files regardless what happens to the data center.
In terms of virtual security, do you have the latest security protocols? Do you use encryption when sending documents?
If not, then chances are your files are in danger of being hijacked. With the cloud, aside from using the highest encryption technology in transmitting files, it uses security protocols that are better than what is available commercially. This gives you peace of mind that your files will always be secured.
3. Cost
Straight out, maintaining hardware and software as well as provisioning for their maintenance and upgrades can be costly. Add to this equation the need to have a dedicated technical staff that you have to pay wages and benefits to, and you are looking at an upfront cost that is quite substantial.
When you go into cloud computing, the hardware, software, and manpower concerns all fall on the side of the provider. This means that the budget you have earmarked for all of these transactions can now be used for other activities that can enhance the performance of your lawyers and improve the functionality of your law firm.
Are you using the internet? Unless you are stuck in a cave in a remote mountain, your answer would obviously be yes, right? What happens when your connection goes bonkers? Can you imagine the headache and stress?
When you subscribe to the Cloud, once the Internet connection goes down, you will be transferred seamlessly to a backup connection that guarantees you almost 99% uptime all the time. And you get this without having to add anything substantial to your expenses.
There is no doubt that moving into the cloud can be a very attractive proposition. With all these reasons, it would be hard to justify why you should not.
While you are at it, find out more about the management free technology of NexStep. Contact NexStep, a cloud computing provider to handle all your data security and let you focus on your modern law practice without worries.