Does your IT infrastructure match the ambitions of your law firm?
Many law practices still rely on a network of on-premise systems, such as case management systems and billing software, to keep their firm afloat.
However, although on-premise IT infrastructures are essential to some firm’s everyday processes, they can cause more trouble than they’re worth. You may find that you suffer from poor usability, lack of scalability and outdated functionality, which will ultimately hinder your competitiveness and productivity.
But how do you know that you’ve outgrown your on-premise environment? Here are four signs you can’t miss.
1. You’re spending a fortune to keep your legacy IT infrastructure alive
On average, 60-80 percent of a business’s IT budget is spent on maintaining legacy systems.
If this is the case for your law firm, it may be worth re-assessing the value of your legacy software. For example, if certain systems, such as your case management or email systems, are capable of migrating to a cheaper cloud-based data centre, it may be worth moving them.
2. You’re chained to the office
Did you know that over 60 percent of legal staff would like to work from home? Well, you can only make this a reality with the right infrastructure.
On-premise systems don’t offer you as much flexibility to accommodate remote working practices. To keep your practice flexible, you’ll need a flexible solution. Adopting a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and using cloud-based tools will make remote working a breeze.
3. You experience downtime and feel unproductive
Downtime doesn’t just affect your technology. It impedes employee productivity, too. In fact, 48 percent of UK employees waste three or more hours a day because of old or inefficient systems.
Of course, time is money in the legal sector. You can’t afford to waste time when important cases and clients are waiting. So, the more reliable your technology, the better.
Moving to a cloud-based environment, such as Microsoft Azure, will allow you to benefit from 99.9 percent uptime at all times, keeping your team maximally productive.
4. You’re unable to scale
Ideally, your databases, systems and email storage should be large enough to handle your daily needs. If you find yourself having to clean-up and delete files frequently, it’s a good sign you’ve outgrown your on-premise IT infrastructure and will need to migrate to a roomier alternative.
Find freedom in the cloud
Whether you’re chained to the office or you’re waiting minutes rather than seconds for a system request, there are a number of tell tale signs your on-premise environment is holding you back.
Ultimately, without updating your technology, you risk falling behind to competitors, paying too much to keep your legacy systems alive, or disappointing your clients.
To future-proof your law firm and stay productive, you’ll need to embrace more modern technologies.
The cloud can offer your firm space to grow, reliable uptime, flexible working and cost-effective billing. It’s the freedom you need to do your best work efficiently. Want to find out more? Get in touch with our team.
