Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product. It has become more popular since cloud sharing solutions have been introduced to facilitate collaboration. While cloud computing may be considered expensive for start-up law firms, larger organizations can actually benefit from cloud services because they are flexible and scalable to accommodate various practice areas within the firm, requiring only additional licensing fees. What are cloud computing benefits for law firms? Here are some of them:
Cybersecurity
One of the main reasons law firms adopt cloud is security. A recent survey revealed cybersecurity was one of top three concerns among attorneys surveyed, with 50% reporting it as “a major issue.” However, there’s no need to worry about cybersecurity since cloud providers manage important data through high levels of encryption that protect against hacking attacks and malware. For cloud providers, cloud computing security is top priority. Data Centers are routinely inspected by independent auditors to ensure regular patching, system updates and vulnerability management go smoothly.
Data Storage
With cloud storage, law firms can quickly and easily scale up to accommodate more data. Cloud providers offer scalable storage that allows users to pay for cloud computing resources only when necessary, making cloud services cost-effective. As a result, cloud computing benefits the bottom line of law firms with growth plans by allowing them to expand their cloud subscriptions as needed without overspending on costly internal hardware or software solutions.
Mobility
Cloud computing is flexible, so cloud users can access cloud data anywhere using any device with cloud applications. For example, cloud providers have developed online versions of traditional software to accommodate cloud users who work on the go or in remote locations with no Internet connection. Moreover, cloud services are accessible at any time and from anywhere whether you’re working offline or online.
Accessibility
Cloud applications are always available. Cloud computing solutions empower lawyers with anytime, anywhere access to their cloud data from any Internet-connected device or platform thereby increasing productivity and giving law firms a competitive advantage.
Productivity
Law firm productivity goes up because cloud computing allows attorneys to focus on creating value for clients instead of being slowed down by technology constraints such as outdated hardware and software requirements which slow load times and ultimately hurt productivity in busy newsrooms.
Collaboration
Cloud services can support cloud sharing solutions that make collaboration a lot easier. For example, cloud users can securely share data online with cloud subscribers to enhance efficiency and effective communication within the law firm.
Scalability
Business growth happens in an instant, but if technology constraints don’t allow for quick changes in information technology infrastructure, law firm productivity goes down. Cloud computing provides a flexible environment that enables firms to quickly scale up their operations when business needs dictate. This cloud benefit is especially helpful during hectic news events such as elections and big court verdicts since scalability allows firms to immediately increase cloud capacity according to existing demand.
The cloud computing market continues to expand significantly as cloud benefits reach more industries, including legal services. Every cloud provider offers different cloud solutions depending on your requirements. Therefore, before choosing a cloud service that best fits your needs, be sure to ask yourself questions such as: How much data/files do I need to store? How often would I use cloud applications? How accessible do I need cloud data to be? If cloud computing is right for your firm, you’re likely future-proofing yourself by choosing business technology solutions that can scale with your business demands.
