Peer to Peer Magazine

64 PEER TO PEER: THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF ILTA | SUMMER 2016 security becomes an increasing concern for law firm staff and aorneys. Clients, aorneys and staff are using a growing array of devices and soware to send and receive confidential data. As more data are created and move around networks and through email, they become increasingly vulnerable to deliberate and accidental data breaches. Firms need to worry about protecting client information and privilege, and they might also need to protect data under federal regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Omnibus Rule and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). CIOs must continually look for ways to leverage technology to make the firm more efficient and create competitive advantages. Clients demand 24/7 access and immediate responses from their legal counsel. To The IT landscape can change dramatically in just five to 10 years. Along with emerging technology, aspects of the CIO function and law firm management can change as well. In 2025, CIOs might spend more of their time managing multitudes of vendors, and they will need to navigate new devices and methods for communicating. They will have to oversee all these changes while keeping an eye on budgets and maintaining security in an increasingly insecure world. By staying on top of current and future best practices, today's law firm CIOs can ensure current success while preparing their firms for continued success. The CIO Today Today, CIOs typically oversee a broad, complex department that touches on every other department, function, practice area and location. The CIO's primary role is to handle IT in a safe, efficient manner, even as For law firm CIOs, the urge to peer into the future is irresistible. Those who oversee the IT function at law firms might find that gazing into crystal balls is not only entertaining, but a way to anticipate emerging trends, minimize risks and gain a competitive edge. by Joe Kelly JOE KELLY Joe Kelly, founder and CEO of Legal Workspace, has broad exposure to how law firms operate. He has focused on the evolution of virtualization, connectivity and hosting technologies to enhance business relationships. Contact Joe at info@legal-workspace.com or on Twitter @legalworkspace. CIO of Today and 2025 The Small Firm

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