What Do You Need to Know About a Virtual Law Office in the “Cloud”

Recently, we received a message, or rather an inquiry, from one of the Attorney’s Back Office application’s immigration paralegal professional users and Google + circle members. We would like to share it with you since it is related to the topic that we are discussing today.

“Dear +Attorney’s Back Office. In your recent articles you've shared information about the on-line software applications and virtual law office that operate in the "cloud", and your software program, Attorney’s Back Office, as example for those. I've heard the term "cloud" before since it’s hard to get away from it these days. Trouble is, most of the information out there is written for IT pros who eat, sleep and breathe this stuff. We, legal professionals, are not familiar with it and the terminology that they use for it. Could you please explain what does the term "cloud" mean in a no-nonsense, plain-English? Thank you, Jessica”

So, what's the cloud, where is the cloud, what does it mean? Why it is called cloud and not something else? These are all questions that you, just like Jessica, have probably heard or even oftentimes asked yourself.

The simplest explanation for the term “cloud” or "cloud computing" is as follows: “cloud” or "cloud computing" means computing that involves a large number of computers connected through a communication network such as the Internet. It also means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. When you store data on or run programs from your PC's hard drive or local network, that's called local storage and computing, and, of course, storing your data on a home or office PC or network does not count as utilizing the cloud. With "cloud computing," you need to access your data or your programs over the Internet, hence, with an online connection, cloud computing can be done basically anywhere, anytime.

So, what do you need to know about the Cloud? One important, irrefutable fact: cloud software is accessed over the Internet. Really, that's all you need to know about it. The cloud software application is accessed over the Internet, using different types of browsers like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc., or via mobile devices that are connected to the Internet. A good “cloud” software application must be also compatible to be accessed by different devices with different operating systems as well, such as PCs, Macs, Android, Linux, etc.

When using the virtual law office in a cloud, like the Attorney’s Back Office’s on-line practice & case management software application with an integrated bilingual client portal, we strongly suggest that you consider opinions, rules, recommendations and regulations issued by your state’s Bar Associations regarding precautions geared toward client confidentiality and privacy rules. State bar associations point out that attorneys and other law professionals, when using a virtual law office in a cloud similar to the Attorney’s Back Office’s on-line practice & case management software application with an integrated bilingual client portal, should perform their due diligence to understand if all their client data, whether it is related to internal communications, accounting and billing data, or just e-mail, is safe. Taking into considering that computer data and information theft are a hundred times more likely to be physically done by burglary, rather than via an on-line high-tech attack or data hijacking, the physical security of the computers and servers located in your office is your number one concern and worry when it comes to a data breach. Therefore, all data, with no exception whatsoever, whether it is confidential or not, communicated to, from, or within the cloud server, must be encrypted with at least 128-bit SSL encryption. Providers of a virtual law office in a cloud must keep the servers secure, the backups should be performed routinely, and you, as a customer, should be able to retrieve data if you need it because that data is yours. Another big advantage of using a virtual law office in a cloud, like the Attorney’s Back Office’s on-line practice & case management software application with an integrated bilingual client portal, is the ease of its maintenance. You, as a user, no longer need to think or consider software updates or server maintenance – with web-based software the application’s provider updates it and takes care of the servers. You no longer need a costly IT support or additional software installations on the staff’s client PCs or network servers.

For more information on the features and functions of the On-line Practice & Case Management Software Application visit our site @ www.attorneysbackoffice.com