Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/16612
CONSOLIDATING SYSTEMS ON A TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM 20% Application #1 Application #2 Application #3 Application #4 Technology Platform Legal Framework 80% Core Application Components search security database business intelligence engine etc. IT Toolset configuration tools software development tools integration tools etc. Figure 1: A technology platform with a robust toolset and framework of legal best practices disturbing the global system.” This philosophy is one of the tenets of a true technology platform. By housing 80 percent of common application infrastructure in the platform, changes to the application-specific functionality are made rapidly, without the potential to impact the “global system.” There is great value in simply consolidating systems on a technology platform that houses common components for use by all applications. Such a platform supports: • Optimizing system interoperability because common components are consistent across all applications • Reducing system administration complexity and improving efficiency with a single administration tool and security model for all applications • Reducing maintenance efforts and costs because platform applications share a common database, eliminating the need for complex integrations However, IT departments should be aware that some legal software vendors use the term “platform” very loosely, calling their products a “platform” when they are, in fact, simply www.iltanet.org Infrastructure Technologies 39