The legal sector is currently in the midst of a period of great change from a technological perspective. Many of the reasons for this aren’t directly related to technology: the world is evolving socially, politically, and commercially, meaning law firms have to respond to new challenges ranging from hybrid working to diversity and inclusion.
The good news is that many law firms have already taken steps to deal with these challenges by moving at least partially into the cloud, particularly for web-based software and data storage. However, there is plenty more to be done so that every employee can securely access all the data and applications they need, wherever and whenever they’re working.
This is where digital workplace technology can be transformative for law firms, but only if it encompasses specific characteristics. This blog highlights four vital parts of any digital workplace deployment.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Over the last 10+ years, the number of law firms who are successfully using cloud services has gone from the very few taking their first steps, to a reported 74% of law firms currently storing client data in the cloud.
Only a few years back, the sentiment was that law firms have been slow to adopt cloud services but with the rise of Microsoft 365 services, new SaaS legal applications, and the rise in remote working, it’s safe to say the legal industry as we know it would not serve its clients in the same way without cloud services.
However, there are still plenty of firms who have either not yet migrated their on-premises servers to the cloud or have had problems when attempting to. In this article, we are going to flag the key considerations law firms should make when migrating to the cloud.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Emails have become a global form of communication in our modern world. With the increasing dependence on emails, it’s essential to ensure that they are secure and protected against potential threats. The increasing amount of email attacks such as phishing, malware and spam has made email security a top priority for businesses.
In this blog, we will explore the four reasons why email security is so critical and what steps can be taken to protect yourself and your business.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an all-in-one suite of services designed to improve productivity and collaboration for businesses, including law firms.
According to a recent study, over 85% of UK law firms are using Microsoft 365 to increase productivity and streamline their operations, however many firms do not utilise their current licence to its full capacity and in some instances use very little of what they are actually paying for.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
In the ever-evolving landscape of IT, making strategic decisions is crucial to ensuring the success and growth of your firm. Among these, selecting the right Managed IT support providers tops the list. But what do you do when your existing provider fails to meet your evolving needs? The process of transitioning to a new provider can often seem complex, time-consuming, and intimidating.
Whether you're transitioning your IT support, migrating Microsoft 365 licences, or undertaking a full cloud migration, it's important to realise that these processes aren't instantaneous. A simple IT support transition or licence migration might wrap up in a couple of months, while a full-scale cloud migration could demand around six months, post signing an agreement. This, coupled with many law firms locked into 3-year contracts with substantial notice periods, underscores the necessity of timely planning and execution.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Does the thought of cyber security measures make you cringe? Don't worry, you're not alone. Plenty of businesses share your pain, groaning under the weight of countless passwords, personal data hoops, and image recognition tests, just to gain access to their own devices and systems. If that wasn't enough, despite these hurdles, cybercrime keeps poking its ugly head. But hold on - there's a plot twist. Done right, security measures can actually fuel productivity. Here's how:
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Cloud computing has transformed business operations with its adaptable, cost-effective, and secure IT infrastructure. It allows companies to rapidly scale resources, innovate, and minimise IT infrastructure risk.
This article will discuss cloud computing benefits, compare major providers such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud (GCP), and The Access Cloud, and help you select the right cloud for your business.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
The end of life (EOL) for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 is fast approaching, with the official EOL date set for October 10, 2023. As many law firms still rely on these servers to access key applications and data, it's crucial to understand the implications of this EOL event and the necessary steps to take.
In this article, we'll explore the importance of addressing Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 EOL and how law firms can use this as a trigger to review their wider IT strategy.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Now more than ever, there are many different challenges facing businesses in the legal sector. In the main, these have been generated by wider changes in the business world, or in society at large: the advance of technology, the increased focus on mental health, the need for sustainability, or the drive towards diversity and inclusion, for example.
The global turbulence of the decade so far (for a number of different reasons) certainly hasn’t helped matters. But all this means that there are going to be several hurdles for law firms to navigate in 2023. This blog highlights the four biggest ones and how to resolve them, including how IT support for law firms can help.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
Having previously been relatively slow to modernise compared to other industries, the legal sector has jumped forward in its adoption of technology and more flexible ways of working in the past few years.
These changes are proving crucial to the business success of legal institutions across the sector. Employees now expect to be able to work where and when they want (within reason), while clients are ever more demanding in wanting maximum value from the law firms they hire. This also has to be balanced with keeping sensitive data safe from cyber-attack, and improving efficiency so that the costs of growth can be kept down.
In this blog, we’ll explore the five key areas where legal cloud technology supports law firms in these endeavours, and how tech can put them on the right track in the months and years ahead.
- Topic:
- Managed IT Services
