4 benefits of being in the cloud for lawyers
As lawyers, we are required to maintain confidentiality of our client matters and prevent unlawful access and loss of this data to 3rd parties. No longer is this information stored in a filing cabinet or on a computer server. Many of us are storing all of our client data on cloud based servers like Settlyd, Dropbox, and Office 365, etc.
Here is why that is a good idea:
Secure: First and foremost must be security. Family law firms are required to protect highly intimate, personal, and confidential client information. With cloud based software, malware and/or ransomware worries are eliminated. Our data is highly secured with logically unbreakable encryption algorithms that are not available to the general public for use on an in house "server".
Stability. Information stored on our hard drives can suffer from stability issues due to dependence on regular maintenance and updates. Our hard drives also wear out and need to be replaced, requiring time and money spent on obtaining a new device and porting all the data over to it. None of this is an issue with cloud based software. Our data is where we need it, when we need it, the way we need it, and can be accessed from wherever we happen to be and is always up to date.
Cost effectiveness: Back in the day it was expensive to set up a law office, even a small one. We needed at least one computer, we needed to buy and load various expensive software applications, purchase and install all software updates, and retain an "IT" expert to help fix all the problems that arise. All that is now gone. Today a lawyer can be up and running with a lap top, printer, and scanner. Small monthly subscriptions to Settlyd, Office 365, Dropbox, etc, will take care of the rest.
Loss prevention: Settlyd, Dropbox, Office 365, etc, store our data for us for a minimal cost. They also employ numerous and redundant back ups to prevent data loss. As a result, the safest place we can store our family law data is in the cloud.
If you are a lawyer still using a server it would be a good practice migrate all of your data over to a cloud based server like Dropbox. It's actually quite simple and you can do it all by yourself!
Guy Vitetta, Esq.
Charleston SC
