The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/34686
SMART MOVES Supporting iPads for Business Use by Brian Donato, CIO at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP I was sitting on my couch, contemplating the road to Law2020, and what progress had been made in 2011. To gain insight, I browsed a copy of Peer to Peer on my iPad. From articles and e-group posts, it was clear that 2011 is the year of the Windows 7/Office 2010 image. But I wondered if it might be a smart move for firms to develop their next major image for an iPad. WHAT AN iPAD IS AND ISN’T The iPad is currently the dominant tablet on the market; not the only tablet out there, but certainly the one most popular with consumers. It is not, however, the best device for creating content. Running the gesture-driven iOS operating system, most reviewers agree that while it is a revolutionary device when it comes to content consumption, it is mediocre at content creation. Still, a primary driver of support for the iPad within law firms is its popularity as a consumer device. Who among us has not fielded that partner-driven inquiry about how to get access to firm email/documents/resources on the iPad so the lawyer can do real work in between rounds of Angry Birds? For many firms, the majority of iPads they support will be consumer-owned devices. TWO APPROACHES, TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF CHALLENGES There are two basic ways to provide access to firm resources on an iPad. First, the firm can provide users the ability to 48 www.iltanet.org Peer to Peer remotely control their desktops, or select apps from their desktops, and thereby indirectly access firm resources. This is the virtual desktop approach. A firm can also distribute a standard set of apps written for the iPad that allow direct access to firm resources. This is the native app approach. THE VIRTUAL DESKTOP APPROACH The virtual desktop approach turns the iPad into a window “The iPad presents an experience that is reasonably close to using a laptop.” to access the firm’s virtual plumbing, which we will call a private virtual cloud (PVC). This cloud can consist of farms of Windows servers running Terminal Services, perhaps Citrix, or perhaps servers running the VMware vSphere solution. The iPad user downloads an app such as Citrix Receiver (or for Terminal Services connections, apps such as iTap, Jump Desktop or Wyse PocketCloud), and now has a virtual Windows desktop running on the iPad. Citrix Receiver even provides instant access to published applications that are really running inside the PVC. If the user hooks up an external Bluetooth keyboard, the iPad presents an experience that is reasonably close to using a laptop, although on most programs, certain keystroke combinations such as Alt-Tab or the Windows key won’t work. Data security is less of an issue than it is with cloud computing since documents and email never actually reside on the iPad, but rather stay inside the PVC. With the latest version of the iOS, users can even print to a local printer from some of these apps. Firms without a PVC can create a similar effect by using programs — such as LogMeIn Ignition — that allow remote control of the desktop, but it is best to check with the IT department before attempting this with a work PC or laptop. your stories! Have you made any career- enhancing moves: certifications, advanced degrees, internships, leadership training, etc.? This section is also open to stories of radical shifts in technology platforms (a true “move”). Send your “Smart Moves” to editor@iltanet.org. We want