Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/9825
Google’s offerings are designed to replace an aging, on-premises infrastructure or to help a new business quickly install its infrastructure. Google does not offer any way to integrate its Web-based services with a firm’s on-site servers. Microsoft supports a hybrid deployment model in which law firms can place part of its infrastructure in the cloud but leave part of it deployed on premises. For example, since many firms have invested in third-party Word and Outlook add-ins, with BPOS they are not forced to jettison those capabilities simply in order to take advantage of cloud computing’s cost benefits. Firms can migrate to preferred hosted services whenever they deem specific workloads applicable. USER TRANSITION Microsoft provides migration tools for switching to Microsoft BPOS from Exchange, Novell and IBM Lotus Notes and develops its applications based on XML to ensure document portability. With its Internet search dominance and online pedigree, Google is HTML-based, which can cause substantial formatting loss and potential data loss during data and document migrations and conversions. For example, when editing a Microsoft Word document in Google Apps, all of the document’s comments, tracked changes and balloon notes become embedded as text into the body of the document. Round-tripping the document with clients who use Microsoft Office quickly becomes impractical. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Transitioning on-premises IT services to hosted, cloud-based services is a complex process. Law firms must consider many options and risks before taking this leap. The agility benefits and cost savings 38 Microsoft ILTA White Paper associated with a migration to cloud computing may come with large trade-offs and hidden costs that are unacceptable to the firm. For an educated decision on moving to a hosted solution, consider the following steps: • Define a Services Strategy • Conduct a Migration Design Session • Select Vendors Objectively • Start Small and Weigh the Benefits DEFINE A SERVICES STRATEGY Law firms must first understand the unified communications and collaboration business needs of their environments by including all stakeholders. Further, firms should avoid investing in silos of technology driven by different legal practice groups wherever possible. A Services strategy should include an integrated experience for all end users, not just the attorneys; an infrastructure to provide a seamless transition; and the flexibility to extend communications capabilities using a supported and trusted developer platform. Adopting a true cloud computing business plan requires collaboration among many stakeholders, including firm partners and practice leaders. E-mail, instant messaging, security, helpdesk support, mobility, desktop applications, collaboration, and Web conferencing, are only a few of the tools firms must evaluate for their applicability to the cloud. CONDUCT A MIGRATION DESIGN SESSION Using a customizable migration design session to understand a firm’s business objectives and align