The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/67910
Mobile nirvana creates capabilities and practices that will change how legal IT departments service an organization and its clients. information will remain within the organization's systems and security measures, allowing the firm to meet their own internal security standards and their clients' data protection requirements. 4. Data Security from Device to Device … to Device As lawyers commingle personal and work devices, legal IT departments face growing security challenges: the risk of sensitive data on personal devices or privately/publicly shared PCs that may or may not be protected, easily accessed and/or lost; and clients' increased awareness of the potential for data loss and their requirements for compliance with specific policies and terms. In some cases, law firms and consulting firms are an easier point of entry than the companies they represent, putting a firm's reputation at stake. According to the Canadian Finance Ministry and Treasury Board, at least seven Canadian law firms were hit by hackers last year, seeking access to client information. Firms are reacting with a broad spectrum of approaches, from new policies and education to disabling USB ports and disabling Web-based email, all of which have workarounds and limited monitoring, tracking and prevention. Although lawyers find ways to be productive in spite of these controls, many of these solutions limit the potential of mobile devices. All firms agree that security investments are important but expect a balance between controls and attorney productivity. Progressive organizations are exploring data loss prevention (DLP) and virtual access among other solutions to overcome these challenges. Both technologies accentuate the need for mobile/remote access. Users will give up their USB sticks when they can get files from their phones, tablets or personal computers, and they won't mind limited Web-based email when they can access their entire mailbox and applications and be productive anywhere. DLP will give executive committees a view into information movement and the ability to develop policies and understand their impact. Virtual desktops are providing access on several platforms, enforcing policies by default. In the end, lawyers will have fewer IDs and passwords and more information at their fingertips, while security measures will be strong but transparent. 5. Technology As a Business Differentiator Now more than ever, technology is expected to drive innovation and make attorneys more productive and profitable. Yet most IT departments are so consumed with the operational demands of a firm that they do not have the time or resources to strategically apply technology to drive innovation. Add to that constantly changing technology advances and attorney requirements, and firms are left with an overstretched, quasi-productive legal IT department. Mobile nirvana creates capabilities and practices that will change how legal IT departments service an organization and its clients. Once a firm's applications or desktops are mobile or virtual, legal IT departments won't spend significant time on PC upgrades or installing software. The centralized management and software distribution tools will provide better testing and software installations with the click of a button. Troubleshooting PC issues will entail simply swapping hardware components, and IT will be able to connect new phones or tablets quickly and securely. All of this means legal IT departments will concentrate on delivering the right information, the way the attorney wants it, wherever it is needed. They will provide a more secure collaborative experience internally and externally. As a result, lawyers will be more productive and more satisfied with their overall technology experience. Mobile Nirvana in Motion Today Imagine: You and your client based in Asia access an iPad application, you are connected and instantly begin collaborating on a pressing legal matter. A client emergency arises while you are on vacation and all you need is your smartphone to work on documents and instant message with co-workers and the client to resolve the emergency. Or you walk into work and your PC is not working. IT comes over and with a simple restart or a 15-minute hardware replacement, and it's operational once again. Mobile nirvana delivers the security, data management, virtualization, 72 Peer to Peer