Technology may often be the last thing that an attorney thinks about. However, in the digital age nowadays, utilizing the internet and becoming tech-savvy will improve the lawyer’s success and get more clients for the law firm.
If you’re one of these lawyers, you may hope that individuals who are good with computers will be able to solve problems for your software and hardware. However, this is not always the case with many companies that prioritizes hiring partners and seasoned case experts.
Fortunately, a managed IT service company will cover you every time you need them. These are the people you can turn to when you need help setting up new computers, securing your digital access, and installing software that’s useful for the entire firm. You can know more about managed services on this site here.
Reasons Why You Should Hire Managed IT Companies
IT companies consist of people needed by most organizations today. Clients rely online to get information, and if you’re one of the lawyers, it’s best if you also start digitizing your data and information.
You can send files if you need your client to review them and get responses faster. Some people rely on email to get news about their cases, and they would want to read multiple files in the timeliest manner possible to prepare themselves. If you’re still in doubt whether you need IT experts, here are some of the benefits to consider.
1. More Affordable Costs of Operations
Larger and smaller firms are always keeping an eye on their budget for the year. It’s more expensive to hire in-house IT support, especially if the firm does not need its services often. Most of the lawyers are busy with court trials, client interactions, calls, reviewing lawsuits, and more that they don’t have the time to meddle with the technology that they have at the firm.
Hiring a staff that does not do much work may cost a firm about $100,000 or more a year. Some don’t have the necessary experience and knowledge to introduce and support different technologies, and it’s costly to train them. With this said, dedicated IT support for law firms may be the better option. They often work whenever they are needed and are usually available 24/7. They can fix problems involving your hardware and will make regular updates to strengthen your IT infrastructure.
2. Maximize your Billable Hours and Productivity
You may be experiencing a server failure, apps that won’t work, or a forgotten password. The attorneys value their time so much that they can’t afford a long downtime period. Many of the system breakdowns can cost them thousands of dollars of lost revenue per hour, and this is why they should have someone who will manage their IT-related issues all of the time.
Business disruptions and loss of productivity are not an issue when you can rely on a reliable IT staff. Many of these companies specialize in data recovery, backups, and others to maintain the business flow and minimize downtime. They also modernize and update the entire infrastructure to maximize your billable hours and reduce the risks of unresponsive apps.
3. Predictable Budgets
Some of these companies have a fixed fee that’s an affordable and cost-effective option. When you’re someone who manages the law firm’s budget, you know precisely the amount that you can allocate for them. There are no holiday pays, taxes, sick leaves, and bonuses included. You won’t have to be surprised by unexpected bills because everything is already covered at the start of the contract.
4. Proper Compliance
There are specific compliance processes and protocols that law firms should follow when storing their client information on databases. Many of the firms and legal practices handle credit cards of various individuals, and the data should be stored in a PCI-DSS compliant space. More about this compliance in this link: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pci-compliance.asp.
Attorneys handling the medical records of their clients are usually subject to the strict standards and regulations of the HIPAA. When a firm fails to comply with these standards, it may face penalties and stiff fines because they increase hackers’ chances of breaching them. Most of the reputable managed IT service providers are always working diligently to update the software and hardware of the firm, and make sure that they are always compliant with government regulations.
5. Data Security and Client Confidentiality
Legal practices receive various confidential papers and highly sensitive information daily. Keeping these data in a very safe and secured storage is essential. System hacks or undetected malware can damage everyone involved, and it will cost millions of dollars to fix. There’s also the issue of clients’ trust that is constantly at risk.
Hackers often like to hostage confidential data and demand vast amounts of ransom. A data leak can occur if the money is not provided, and sensitive info will be distributed to various platforms and communities. This will harm the clients and the lawyers and will affect the legal community overall.
Most managed IT service providers regularly work to protect the entire law firm from malware, viruses, phishing sites, and more. They are alerted if there are suspicious activities and will generally take immediate action to prevent them from occurring.
6. 24/7 Support and Monitoring Available
Most of the in-house IT teams are tasked to monitor threats during business hours and handle day-to-day activities. However, most small firms don’t have the budget to hire them, and if one of the essential operations is overlooked, it can end up compromising everyone’s security.
The sophisticated software and hardware are already given to their clients to combat malware attacks with a third-party provider. Aside from the secure and authorized software, a team of dedicated experts working around the clock to support and monitor various computer activities. They prevent any downtimes from happening, they are available 24/7, and you can even rely on them during the holidays. Live desk support is only a call away, which will add value to many firms.
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