Cloud computing for law firms has become mainstream over the past decade. One of the services that has helped entice reluctant lawyers into the cloud is e-discovery. By 2017, e-discovery backed by cloud service providers has become de facto for most law firms.

That’s because there are now dozens of e-discovery firms in the cloud. While some attorneys still may feel more comfortable discarding cloud service providers for an on-site solution, the days of sitting in a law library may be history.

EDiscovery as a Solution for Your Firm

E-discovery software and cloud service providers are intertwined in the market today. These platforms are chiefly SaaS, or software-as-a-service, which provide offerings in an Internet-focused subscription.

The first question most attorneys ask when considering the cloud is the ethical ramifications of storing data on a remote server somewhere. While case law is still evolving in this relatively new field, the American Bar Association has put together a handy chart of cloud ethics opinions in the U.S. to date. The Legal Cloud Computing Association has published guidelines on working with cloud service providers and e-discovery firms.

The general consensus is that storing data with cloud service providers is a sound methodology. Cloud e-discovery offers a securely encrypted data hub with permissions-based access. EDiscovery cloud providers usually have a dedicated security team and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) dedicated to maintaining data integrity. They know how essential this work is, and how evolving to meet today’s escalating risk profile is crucial to their business. If you’re considering an e-discovery platform, look at their cyber security controls, server redundancy, and their encryption methods while your data is in transit and at rest.

Many e-discovery companies offer both cloud and on-site options, and they also offer project managers to help with your transition and maintaining your account. This is an important area where an IT managed service provider could help your firm; from vendor selection to the migration of data, MSPs can help ease your transition to the cloud.

Get a free assessment of your cloud readiness.

Making the Case for E-discovery

Cloud e-discovery options have evolved and matured quickly. EDiscovery can now be purchased as a full package that includes a team of staff researchers, which is an incredible time saver for the small law firm. Doing more with less is a hallmark of cloud technology; it is the great equalizer for small to mid-size law firms seeking economies of scale.

Four additional benefits of cloud-based e-discovery include:

• Self-service, which can eliminate the “middle-man” and increase billable time.
• Or, leveraging that outsourced vendor partnership for litigation support, allowing a completely new business line for a law firm.
• Speeding up the document review process. Instead of waiting for processed data to review, the cloud allows you to get to work within hours.
• Eliminates IT maintenance and upgrade costs and offers predictable flat-fee or pay-as-you-go based billing.
• Reduce malpractice risk by tracking all the steps you take during the discovery process.

E-discovery software can be accessed in a variety of ways, including on-premise. If your law firm is considering cloud migration, you have options. Learn more, get a free assessment today and find out how partnering with TOSS C3 can help your firm evolve.