Law firms rely on technology more than ever before to keep their practices running smoothly; to enable productivity; and to gather, store and use information securely. Partnering with a managed IT service company is vital to firms that want to optimize their use of technology without shouldering the burden of hiring, training, and retaining their own internal IT department.

In some ways, the technology needs of law firms are similar to many other businesses. At the same time, they have requirements that are specific to their industry. Let’s look at three of these and how managed service providers (MSP) can help.

Special Technology Requirements of Law Firms

Cybersecurity

Safeguarding information is imperative to attorney-client relationships. Client information needs to be protected not just where it’s stored but as it moves about through emails, messaging apps, and phone calls. A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy goes hand in hand with cyber insurance. In fact, you can’t even qualify for cyber insurance if you don’t have an advanced cybersecurity strategy.

How an MSP Helps:

An MSP works with your law firm to create a cybersecurity process that starts with identifying what needs to be protected, all the way through to creating an incident response plan. They’ll help you to create data access policies that control who can see information, and how it can be transmitted.

When you work with a managed IT service provider, you’ll get access to experts who spend 100% of their time on security. That means that you’ll have the up-to-date information you need to make the best decisions on how to manage cyber risk. You’ll also get access to the latest tech tools and best practices that are needed in a comprehensive security strategy.

Document Management

Your law firm handles a lot of documents in the course of your day-to-day work. Add to that all of the correspondence that goes with them, and you’ve got a mountain of files that need to be stored, organized, and protected. Add to that the need for everything to be backed up so that when a disaster happens or an employee mistakenly deletes a file, you have the most recent versions to work with.

How an MSP Helps:

A managed IT service company can help you choose the document management software that best meets your needs. If you aren’t already utilizing the cloud for your file storage and infrastructure, they can facilitate that migration. They can also integrate your other apps, like Microsoft 365 which brings us to the next point.

Productivity and Practice Management

Billable hours are how you get paid, and technology can enhance or hinder productivity. Routine tasks can eat away a lot of time but are essential for documenting work. When you have multiple locations and remote workers, applications like Microsoft Teams are vital for collaboration. The challenge is to find ways to use technology to run your practice so that it’s a competitive advantage.

How an MSP Helps:

The managed IT service company that you work with should provide you with a virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO) who will learn about your business and make recommendations that will improve productivity. These could be improvements in how you utilize Microsoft Teams and integrate Microsoft 365 into your practice management software. They should also be able to create automations to streamline workflows that are complex or have multiple steps.

Sometimes productivity relies on employees being able to get help fast when they have issues. So having a service desk that can respond quickly is essential. A proactive approach to IT management also aids productivity because many problems can be prevented before they happen.

Managed IT Services for Law Firms in Baltimore and Washington D.C.

XPERTECHS works with law firms in the Baltimore/D.C. region as well as the Dallas and Houston, Texas regions. We’re familiar with the particular needs of this industry and our security processes are third-party validated through SOC 2 Type 2 attestation.

Related: Read how XPERTECHS Fast-tracked Virtual Upsizing at Friedman, Framme and Thrush PA

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