In the legal sector, more and more firms are opting to outsource their IT management to a third-party. This is mainly due to the fact that, as technology becomes more integral to the way companies work, it becomes a higher priority to manage and support that technology in the best way possible – the challenge there is that if a company isn’t well-versed in the IT industry, managing their infrastructure will sap a lot of their time and resource – thus, outsourcing is, in many ways, the best option for many.
What Do Law Firms Need from Their IT Support?
We discussed this with TechQuarters, an IT support company based in London, that has been supporting law firms for quite some time. Law firms benefit from a range of IT solutions that can be applied to other types of businesses; however, in some areas, Law firms will require more rigorous support and management – such as with cybersecurity and data governance.
- Software Support
When we asked TechQuarters about the kinds of support they give to their clients in the Legal sector, they mentioned software support. Like any of the London IT support companies that provide support to specific sectors, TechQuarters has had to learn about the kinds of software that Law firms use. The kinds of software Law firms use include:
Clio – A cloud-based law practice management software that is accessible across the web, desktop, and mobile, making it easy for lawyers and paralegals to work flexibly and increase their productivity.
FastCase – A suite of cloud-based apps that enhances legal research, analytics, docket management, etc. This suite is available on desktop and mobile.
OneNote – This note management app from Microsoft is not designed for Law firms specifically; however, a cloud-based note tool that integrates with email, cloud storage, and more, is very useful for law firms.
OneDrive – A cloud-based storage and document management app geared toward individual users.
Teams – A unified communication and collaboration platform from Microsoft. Teams can be used by lawyers and paralegals to communicate from anywhere, at any time.
Most businesses use a diverse array of apps and services, and it can sometimes be a challenge form them to manage all their software consistently – particularly if they have a small in-house IT team. Partnering with an IT support provider means you can outsource the management of your software to a partner who is better equipped for the job.
- Cybersecurity & Data Governance
Another area which the IT support Law firms need should be emphasising is in Cybersecurity and data governance. As anybody that is in business will be patently aware of, the risk of cyberattack for businesses has never been higher – in fact, it is accurate to say that the risk of cyberattack gets higher every year, because the methods used become more sophisticated. For a business that is relying on a small in-house IT department, there is a definite risk of their security solutions failing to stay ahead of the latest threats.
This is why partnering with a professional IT support company is a good idea; their organisation will be centred around providing the most cutting edge solutions to businesses – which will include the latest security solutions. Similarly, an outsourced IT support provider will be more effective at keeping on top of regulations and frameworks (which are updated very frequently) pertaining to their client’s industries – which means Law firms can rest assured that their infrastructure and practices are compliant.
- Projects / IT Consultancy
Modern day IT support is not just about having someone there to fix your IT when it breaks. The best IT providers implement highly proactive methodologies when supporting their clients, and offer infrastructure and project consultancy to clients, with the goal of helping them modernize and optimize their IT infrastructure.