KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
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Advancing KM in a Security-Conscious World
A hot topic among knowledge management (KM) professionals
is the trend toward restricting access to a law firm's document
management system (DMS). For KM programs that have relied on the
work product in the DMS as the core content for knowledge-sharing,
a change in the security model could signal a huge shi in how we
approach KM. Savvy KM professionals are anticipating this change
and rethinking their programs in light of this brave –– or fearful ––
new world.
Most law firms have an open DMS, meaning content is accessible
to all or most of the firm by default, unless individuals or groups
are specifically denied access through, for instance, an ethical wall.
However, recent client demands for tighter access controls are causing
law firms to consider moving from an open to a closed DMS, where
each piece of content is made accessible only to individuals and groups
identified as needing access. Although law firms store client data in
other repositories, the DMS has been the primary target of security
lock-down efforts because of the volume of content stored and the
broad access.
KM programs traditionally have made heavy use of the
documents in an open DMS; representing a firm's collective work
product, the DMS serves as a rich source for content generated
in a normal workflow. Many law firms have invested heavily in
sophisticated enterprise search tools that allow aorneys to search
and filter through a continuously updated and refreshed database of
millions of documents. Coupled with an open DMS, these search tools
break down information silos and the need for laborious curation of
model documents.
by Gwyn McAlpine of Perkins Coie
Advancing KM in a
Security-Conscious World
