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Are you an early adopter? Perhaps you're considering moving your business to the cloud. "Cloud computing" is a new buzz word we've been hearing a lot about. For those who have not heard the term, Cloud computing involves using web based services to perform functions that were traditionally done with software installed on an individual computer.
Do you have an account with Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo? If so, you are already computing in the clouds. These free email sites, as well as social networking sites like Facebook, store all of your account information on their servers and you can access all of your information from any computer at any time.
Cloud Computing in a nutshell
Cloud computing is a system by which all of your information and software is stored on a network of servers "out there" or "in the clouds", hence "cloud computing."
One of the primary benefits of working in the clouds is how easy and inexpensive it is to get started - there's no hardware, software, or related infrastructure to purchase and maintain. Instead, customers simply choose a subscription level that matches their requirements while the vendor takes care of everything else.
Everything else, of course, includes a vendor's "service delivery" - the complex technologies and processes that protect each customer's data from both physical loss and unauthorized use, guarantee that data is available around the clock and without delay, and ensure that the vendor can maintain acceptable service delivery as the customer's user base, applications, and number of transactions grow.
Cloud computing Pros:
* Cost of an onsite server and hardware maintenance is absorbed by the host.
* All you need is a laptop or desktop computer to access the host. You no longer need a hard drive to access all of your programs and files.
* As the size of your business increases, you can add additional service from the Cloud provider without having to pay for additional hardware.
* True ability to work from anywhere. No brick and mortar necessary.
* All of your information is on the host server - as long as you have online access you are in business!
Cons
* If the host were to go out of business, you run the risk of losing your information.
* If your IPS goes down, so do you - no connection, no work. We believe this is a valid but relatively minor "con" as most of the larger ISP rectify any connectivity issues quickly.
* The security of your system is only as tight as the security of your host.
* Cloud provider has access to your information, again comes down to trust.
Regarding security, Clio co-founder and president Jack Newton warned users to undertake these measures in the October 2010 Law Practice Today, including:
* Backing up both on-premise and cloud-based data
* Control access to applications
* Physically secure on-premise hardware
* Use passcode protection function for all mobile devices
Cloud-based solutions (examples)
Clio - geared to the sole practitioners and small firms
Clio aims to overcome many of the technical hurdles offered by conventional practice management software.
Clio was produced with the Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC) to address many of the challenges faced by most solos and small firms: calendaring, time tracking, note taking, trust accounting, managing retainers. With a view to helping lawyers meet their professional and ethical obligations, the Law Society of British Columbia's Practice Standards division advised the integration of several key features in Clio, such as retainer tracking, trust accounting logic, and fail-safe calendaring.
Now integrated with Google Apps in response to user requests, the integration has three major components:
* Synchronization of Clio contacts and calendar entries with Google Apps contacts and calendar entries.
* E-mail integration between Clio and Google App's Gmail for Business via Clio's newly-released "email dropbox" functionality.
* Google Apps Marketplace integration.
AdvologixPM - serving law firms of all sizes
Using the same platform as salesforce.com, Advologix delivers core business management applications for Contact Management, Client Relationship and Matter Management, Scheduling and Docketing, Time, Billing and Expenses, Invoice, Payment and Retainer Management, Document Automation, Assembly and Management. http://www.advologix.com/advopmsignup.htm
Their fully functional mobile application provides Outlook and Google Apps integration, automation and Workflow, reporting and analytics, web lead generation and Email, plus integration with other systems.
AdvologixPM bills itself as a Client Relationship Management Solution that empowers firms to effectively market and grow their practice and enhance their agility, client service and profitability. The company claims technology in the cloud means lower ownership costs and improved reliability and security, with no concerns about infrastructure-- more value, more flexibility, and less headaches. Users can start with the basics and add features as they grow with the system.
Mobile solutions
When professionals get busy, tasks like recording time can be overlooked. Slippage occurs when work is forgotten, small amounts of time are overlooked or time is under-reported.
According to an Altman Weil Consulting study of fee-based professionals, 10 % of billable hours are lost if they go unrecorded until the end of the day. Four hours are lost if they go unrecorded for a week. Fifteen hours are lost if the hours remain unrecorded for a month. This can add up to 170 - 200 hours per attorney per year in lost time.
The study found that firms can recover up to $19,200 per fee earner annually simply by utilizing an application that records and captures hours that might have otherwise been lost. Programs like WorkTrakr and AirTime Manager enable users to recover this billable time, with versions for wireless calls and Email, smartphone and more.
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Amicus Mobile 2010 is an add-on to Amicus Attorney 2010 Premium Edition which runs Amicus on a Smartphone. A miniature version of Amicus Attorney, it uses wireless networks to connect real-time, all-the-time to Amicus Attorney server so users can view and edit live data. While Amicus Mobile can't do everything Amicus can, it covers all the basics, including:
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* Everything users do or change happens not only on their PDA, but within moments back at the office as well
* Automatically keep a record of all incoming and outgoing calls on handhelds
* Automatic time entries for all phone calls
*Time entries on any file
* Lists of unposted time entries by date or range
* Complete file index and much more
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MobileTM - an add-on to Time Matters
Time Matters support consultants are often asked about Time Matters ability to function over a VPN connection. A VPN is a feature of networks where a user securely connects to the network from anywhere. Time Matters is very database driven and requires a large connection that just does not operate well over VPN.
A number of other options make Time Matters remote access usable. Microsoft Terminal Server is an excellent way to provide full access to Time Matters and its components as well as Email and business documents. Using Remote Web Workplace or LogMein or GoToMyPC are other options for connecting to Time Matters. Developed by a group of consultants. MobileTM allows Time Matters to be easily available on your smart phone or any device with a web browser.
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