American Bar Association Hails Cloud Computing Recognizes Uptime

Migrating to Practice Management Apps

Featuring Uptime Legal Systems

In an article published on the American Bar Association web site, members of the ABA discuss the benefits of cloud computing services in the practice of law, and recognize Uptime Systems as a leading provider in the industry.

In the article, titled Migrating to Cloud Practice Management Apps, the members of the ABA discuss the many benefits cloud computing brings to the legal industry, including accessibility, mobility, security and economy. The authors discuss cloud-based practice management applications (SaaS) and complete cloud platforms for law firms (IaaS and DaaS) such as Uptime’s own suite of services.

Benefits of Cloud-based Solutions

“The biggest benefit of CPM [Cloud Practice Management] is reduced need for expensive hardware, software, and maintenance,” the authors state. “CPM software runs in someone else’s data center, so you don’t have to maintain a powerful server or workhorse workstations for the software.”

“Another benefit of CPM is mobility; now your software and files are accessible wherever you have Internet access, and many programs have an app for your mobile device as well. Whether you are in your office, in a conference room with a client, in your home office, or traveling, you can resume work wherever you previously left off. Your calendar, files, and information are all immediately accessible and up-to-date.”

Security & Ethics

The authors continue: “The most common question lawyers ask about moving to CPM applications is: How safe is my client information?”

Most fears about trusting client information to “the Internet” are misplaced. One misconception is that client information may be intercepted as it travels across the Internet. Modern encryption has progressed to the point where it is unbreakable. The only way to decrypt information in transit across the Internet is to break a weak password or obtain the cloud subscriber’s password or pass phrase.

The real dangers to confidential client information lie in using unsecure passwords or in failing to follow important security precautions. These dangers apply to everyone: your law office, cloud service providers, and non-cloud companies alike. You face them even when you don’t use cloud applications. Hackers can break into the computers in your office if you don’t use strong passwords, maintain a good firewall, and protect against new viruses and malware. Poorly implemented security precautions could threaten your information stored by both cloud and non-cloud businesses such as banks, credit card companies, law firms you communicate with, and your own law office.”

Complete Cloud Solutions

Some law firms may need nothing more than basic, web-based practice management applications. Many others are looking for a complete, all-in-one cloud platform for their entire firm including email, document management, practice management, hosting of their existing legal software and even a phone solution. On the topic of a complete cloud platform for attorneys, the authors state: “It is now both practical and reasonably affordable to outsource your network to a cloud-based company. When you subscribe to a hosting service, your network server and all your personal computers are virtualized and run on a professionally managed server farm far from your location. You connect across the Internet and work on your hosted computer desktop using Microsoft Windows and all the traditional software programs that you are used to. You don’t buy and maintain a server and you don’t pay for everything up front. The virtual desktop computers provided by the hosting company are fast and powerful. You need laptops or personal computers to work on, but they can be inexpensive.”

The authors continue: “Advantages of this approach are (1) highly predictable monthly costs and (2) outsourcing of the hassles, updating, and maintenance of not only your server but also most of your desktop programs. No large initial investment for purchasing a new server or replacing an old one is required.”

Selecting a Provider

The authors (along with many state bars) advise that security and reliability vary from one cloud service provider to another, and that careful due diligence is important when selecting a provider. In addition to citing a number of web-based practice management software providers, the authors highlight: “Companies that specialize in hosted servers and desktops for law offices include Uptime Systems (uptimesystems.net). They specialize in working with law offices and are familiar with legal practice management software such as Time Matters, Abacus, and Worldox.”

As cloud computing continues to gain favor in the legal industry, Uptime Systems continues to emerge as the world’s leading provider of cloud services for law firms. Uptime remains the only provider that provides a Complete Law Office in the Cloud.

More Resources

• Read the original ABA article.
• Learn more about Uptime’s Cloud Services for the legal industry.