Secure cloud adoption for today’s law firms
The legal landscape is undergoing a transformative, technology-driven shift, which means attorneys must expand their scope of expertise beyond legal and business acumen to compete in an increasingly digital world. Technology has become an integral part of the legal profession, as highlighted by a survey from global information services company Wolters Kluwer. According to their 2023 Future Ready Lawyer Survey, 87% of legal professionals believe that technology has improved their day-to-day work – but only 46% feel they are fully leveraging the available technology, indicating a potential gap in maximizing its benefits.
The ubiquity of cloud adoption
If there is a singular aspect of rapid technological development in recent years, it’s the exponential rise in cloud adoption. While momentum behind the cloud has not been as robust in law as it has in some other industries, this year has ushered in a notable boost. The International Legal Technology Association’s (ILTA) annual Technology Survey reports a substantial growth of 11% in cloud-based document management libraries in 2023. This surge, labeled as reaching a “critical mass” by ILTA, is being led by smaller firms, but even larger –sometimes more change-resistant – firms are participating in this trend.
But is it secure?
While the benefits of cloud computing are evident, its increased adoption has escalated concerns over data security and privacy. As remote working becomes more prevalent, issues such as unsecured home WiFi (44% of respondents), remote device management (42% of respondents), and data leakage via removable media (31% of respondents) have become some of the biggest points of concern for legal professionals, according to the ILTA survey.
This necessitates a thorough exploration of security measures for legal professionals to foster client confidence and uphold their firm’s credibility. Legal IT Insider’s 2023 report Cloud Technology and Governance: A Legal Sector in Transition sheds light on the security challenges related to cloud adoption. While integration with existing systems emerged as the top concern for 75% of respondents, data security (31%), regulatory and compliance issues, and uncertainty over return on investment (25%) were also significant.
Protection and privacy through partnership
Despite these concerns, many firms believe they are well-equipped to forge ahead on their cloud migration path. The Legal IT Insider report indicates that 74% of IT leaders surveyed feel confident in their in-house technical expertise to manage cloud migration and operations. This confidence is further underscored by supplementing in-house resources with trusted third-party cloud solution providers with a proven track record of success.
As a global voice technology leader, the seasoned team at Philips Dictation understands the needs and concerns of legal professionals navigating cloud adoption. For example, the Philips SpeechLive dictation and transcription solution offers enterprise-grade security features to ensure flexible business operations while safeguarding sensitive data. Key features of Philips SpeechLive comprise all the benefits of leading-edge cloud hosting with Microsoft Azure, ensuring secure data storage and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. The solution’s capabilities also include high-level file encryption, password-protected access, and process-related precautions like automatic routing and backups. Finally, Philips Dictation enforces a strict vendor management policy, collaborating only with industry-leading service providers following extensive security audits.
As legal professionals face increasing pressures related to productivity and efficiency, cloud adoption becomes a crucial consideration as the core of the modern firm’s tech toolbox. Philips Dictation is not only addressing current needs, but also preparing for further technological evolution. With an eye on data security and privacy combined with leading-edge innovation, Philips is committed to helping attorneys confidently embrace cloud-based enablement in a swiftly changing landscape.
To learn more about Philips SpeechLive, visit our website www.speechlive.com or email us at info.na@speech.com