Digital White Papers

MOBILE COMPUTING IN THE SMALL FIRM they allow our attorneys to bill as much as possible by removing some obstacles to billing. Laptops are also an important component of our business continuity plan. Downtown Des Moines has been evacuated several times in the last 20 years due to flooding or the potential for flooding, which can be quite disruptive. Laptops make it possible for us to evacuate and continue with our prosecution work for another five to 10 days. Now we are looking at ways to accommodate attorney requests for smartphones and tablets in a way that maintains security and protects client confidentiality. Attorneys want these new tools because the devices have the ability to perform primary tasks, such as reading and answering email messages, Web-browsing and — in the case of tablets — document review. They make travel easier and are also seen as symbols of status. They are fun to use, they combine personal and work life, and they let the user feel in control. Tablets and smartphones appear to be simpler to use than a computer, but the truth is they both simplify and complicate matters. While they make working on-the-go easier, the tradeoff for portability and increased productivity is the forfeiture of some functionality and open up new risks. COMPLICATED ISSUES The work-from-anywhere and bring-your-own-device Education on plausible risks — and how to manage those risks — is an important component of any mobile strategy. (BYOD) trends deliver a harsh blow to some primary principles of small firm IT success: "keep it simple" and "standardize, standardize, standardize." provide software for email, device management, security, productivity, data transfers and antivirus on all platforms. They also bring back a lot of risks that had been mitigated or had mature solutions in development in traditional desktop and server computing environments. Coupling these mobile technologies with personal accounts and the cloud further complicates the issues. In addition, the top device in the market isn't likely to hold its reign for long. This has already occurred with the BlackBerry, which once had a staggering lead over all other platforms. Industry trade publications indicate the next generation finds Android and Microsoft products more interesting and innovative than Apple's iPhone, current holder of the top spot. You will need to be prepared when the tide shifts again (and again). Some vendors have recognized these issues and now offer suites that license their product to run across all possible endpoints. Based on what we have been through, we offer some basic advice for small firms looking to leverage mobile technologies for the future. PLAN FOR MULTIPLE PLATFORMS AND OBJECTIVES One of the biggest concerns with the BYOD version of mobility is that money will need to be spent redundantly on legacy platforms, such as Windows, and on new mobile platforms. With a handful of mobile platforms in existence and the potential for others to be developed, there is a possible need to Be aware that while you may begin with a specific goal, it is likely to change. If your firm initially asks for mobile email, realize the scope will probably creep beyond this modest-sounding request. Know this going in, and you will be a step ahead when new objectives arise. Attorneys will want to annotate,

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