One of the growing priorities that law firms face when considering a legal technology provider is cyber and data security. As such, during our recent Legal IT Clinic webinar, we asked our customers (law firms) their top questions when it comes to choosing a legal cloud managed service provider (MSP) or legal technology provider and the majority were concerned with these three key areas: The responsibilities of an MSP or legal technology provider, Cyber incidents including mitigation and response strategies and Cyber essentials compliance and best practices.
- Topic:
- Legal
Is your law firm achieving the paperless dream, or is your legal team still sifting through mountains of documents and paper day in and day out?
We have been talking about it for at least four decades, and yet today, many law firms are still drowning in paper even though the technology to eliminate the stuff has existed for quite some time.
- Topic:
- Legal
What is Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience (NCE)?
Microsoft recently announced a change to their licensing structure (called the New Commerce Experience or NCE) which includes an increase to the license fee. The New Commerce Experience introduces seat-based cloud offerings for Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Windows 365 and Power Platform. Its primary aim is to simplify the way Microsoft’s products, models and subscriptions work and provide cost savings for long-term commitments.
- Topic:
- Legal
For any law firm making a decision on whether to host their legal case and practice management software on the cloud or on their own on-premise servers, Access Legal has produced this practical checklist.
Cloud Computing Defined: Cloud computing for Law Firms, in the context of this checklist, is simply outsourcing the hosting of your accounts, case and practice management software along with the other key integrated third-party software products, such as Microsoft Office and Exchange. Of course cloud computing as such i.e. the provision of computing services over the internet, is nothing new. Remote application hosting has been available for many years.
The question is – as a law firm should you host your software on your own in-house servers or do you entrust the hosting of your critical business systems to a cloud technology partner? Either way the software doesn’t change – the only differences are how you access the software and where it is hosted.
- Topic:
- Legal
The value of a law firm’s data should never be underestimated, and so it is important to find an experienced software supplier you and your partners can completely trust if you are considering switching from one legal case and practice management system to another and need to convert your law firm’s data.
In terms of a law firm’s assets, consideration for your data is as important as your people, their expertise and their time. Decision makers understandably can be wary about investing and switching to alternative legal software because of the prospect of migrating all of their precious data. Unfortunately some technology providers have made it difficult for firms to retrieve their data, compounding the concern over switching to a new provider.
- Topic:
- Legal
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
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
Changing IT providers is a significant decision for any business, and it can be a complex and challenging process. In this blog, we will discuss the biggest challenges when changing IT providers and provide solutions to help businesses overcome them.
Whether you're looking to reduce costs, improve service levels, or enhance your IT capabilities, changing IT providers can be an effective way to achieve your goals, but it requires careful planning and execution.
- Topic:
- Legal
It goes without saying that remote working has become increasingly popular in recent years, and the legal profession is no exception. According to a survey conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales in 2020, 75% of law firms in England and Wales have implemented remote working, and that the majority of respondents (84%) felt that remote working had been successful in their firm.
One key factor that enables successful hybrid working for UK law firms is the availability of good IT infrastructure and support. With the right tools and support, employees can work effectively from any location, whether that's in the office, at home, or on the go.
- Topic:
- Legal
