Security is important no matter what field you are in. When it comes to law firms this is especially important. Law firms use several types of technology to handle their documents and other processes. While technology managers in law firms were previously interested in cloud computing they are reducing their drive towards it citing security concerns. They are focusing on the security of their information more according to the studies done by The American Lawyer. One of the driving forces behind this is clients asking the firms to detail their policies in security whenever they are working with the firm.
When a survey was done of the ones using the cloud computing, the main functions used are items that are non-core . For example e-discovery and human resources are the bulk of the applications used. Of those surveyed only 8% say they are using the cloud for document management. The biggest drawback sited was their concerns for security. Among the findings that the survey produced the budgets for technology are averaging around $4.7 million for the firms. This is an increase of 7% from last year.
A problem that seems to be complicating security is the increased use of personal devices in the workplace. The CIOS are managing this successfully they report by using the new generation of management software for the mobile devices. One example of that is Good Technology INC’s Good For Enterprise and MobileIron’s Virtual Smartphone Management Platform. These help to deal with the issues that arise in the office because of more occurrences of using mobile data in the offices. This is likely to increase as well each year as more and more new mobile devices come out.
While all the firms that were surveyed still use the BlackBerry phones, there are 96% of those surveyed that have users on iOS systems. Those numbers are up from 2010 with those numbers were only 77%. Android devices have also gone up from 43% to 67% this year. This shows that more and more law firms are increasing their use of the iPhone and iPad as well as other options in the mobile industry.
While security is a large issue in law firms, there are many technology advancements that help to reduce the risk. There are many document managing plans out there that are secure and ready to use. If you are working as the technology manager for a law firm you need to understand your options. Your clients want to know that their information is safe and secure when dealing with your firm. Giving them that security will help them to advertise for you. Word of mouth goes a long way in this business and any other consumer related business. Word of mouth advertising can be just as valuable as paid advertising, sometimes even more valuable.
