The private cloud is becoming less popular in law firms. There are some advantages to not placing all your data and infrastructure in the cloud, but is the public cloud the way to go? If you are not sure if you should invest in the private cloud or the public cloud, then maybe you should think of the hybrid. The hybrid is the best of both worlds. Cloud services have increased its ability to merge multiple cloud infrastructures and enhance the overall network capabilities for law firms.

The Private Cloud

The nice thing about the private cloud is you get to keep total control over your infrastructure. The hardware, the networking, the software, and the security is all yours to maintain as you wish. That also means it is all yours to maintain; as in the costs. You pay for each license, the personnel, the hardware, and everything else that can go wrong with the network. Smaller firms may have problems paying for a fully functional private network, and may have to look at alternative cloud services to meet increasing security standards. Federal and state laws are popping up requiring law offices to meet the demands of the digital age, and that means having the ability to thwart hackers, preparing for natural disasters, and keeping client’s data safe under all conditions. Subscribe to the TOSS C3 blog to learn more about the private cloud in law firms.

The Public Cloud

Most cloud services offered to law firms today are designed to work in public clouds. Public clouds can offer enterprise-level quality to smaller law firms for a fraction of the price it would cost the firm to purchase and maintain on its own. The servers are maintained in an offsite data center, which may be located out of the state. This is great when it comes to disaster recovery services. It is true you lose some control over your infrastructure, but if you have a solid service agreement in place, then you have all the control you need. But, what if it just isn’t exactly what you are looking for?

The Hybrid Cloud

The hybrid cloud offers the best of both worlds. You get the security of having your client data stored in-house, but have the flexibility to have it backed up and stored in a separate facility in case of a natural disaster. The majority of your servers can be stored at a provider’s data center, and your personal servers can be small enough that a team of one or two IT professionals are all that is needed to take care of everything. You can also purchase cloud services that include monitoring tools for both your private and public clouds, but is managed by the public provider. Cloud providers can also add a second layer of authentication and security services to help protect your private-cloud data store.

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When deciding on what type of cloud infrastructure would be best for your firm, make sure to find out the state laws where you live. Consider your needs and the affordability of a cloud infrastructure before deciding your best course of action. A hybrid solution is a good in-between possibility when you want the best of both worlds. Get a free assessment and find out which cloud environment is best for you.