Private Cloud in the Context of a Law Firm
Many midsize and small law firms are transforming their IT infrastructure to benefit from the power of cloud computing. The most effective way to leverage the power of the cloud for your firm is through a law firm private cloud, also known as desktop-as-a-service (DaaS). With a private cloud, your IT service provider replaces your law firm’s server and IT platform with a hosted virtual desktop that you and your staff can access anywhere in the world. This means that when an employee logs into the virtual desktop, they will find all of their applications and documents—everything from Microsoft Word and Excel to your law firm’s practice management and billing software.
The main advantage of a private cloud is that it allows your firm to enjoy all the benefits of the cloud, without abandoning the software it uses. A private cloud will allow your firm to host the same software that it would have installed on its own servers (typically a server in the firm’s copy room), but it will be managed, hosted and supported by a third-party IT service provider.
Because of this, your IT team will no longer have to deal with the expense and hassle of maintaining and updating your firm’s servers or integrating new software programs into existing systems. Additionally, most cloud services for law firms are on-demand, meaning that you only pay for the resources that you use—not the resources that you don’t. This makes it even more affordable for your law firm to access full-grade IT services.
What is a Private Cloud in the Context of a Law Firm?
Another advantage of a private cloud is security. Because the server hosting your law firm’s data is not onsite, it is significantly more secure against cybercriminals—particularly if you choose a quality IT service provider with the gumption and resources to implement best-in-class firewall protections, a robust security framework, physical access controls, video surveillance, and other high-security measures.
One of the primary reasons that lawyers are hesitant to adopt cloud technology is because they worry about client confidentiality. While clients do not want to worry about their information being compromised in the event of a data breach, it is essential that you take reasonable precautions to protect your clients’ personal information when storing and using their data in the cloud.
A private cloud is the most reliable and secure way for a law firm to store and use their data. It is the most cost-effective way to achieve the scalability and flexibility that come with the cloud, while ensuring that your data remains safe against cybercriminals. This is why more and more midsize and small law firms are choosing to move their IT platforms to the private cloud. By doing so, they can ensure that their clients’ confidential information is always protected—even in the event of a data breach. By storing, sharing, and accessing their data in the private cloud, these law firms can provide a higher level of service for their clients—and keep them happy. If you’re interested in learning more about the advantages of a private cloud for your law firm, please reach out to us today!