Cloud-Based Vs. On-Premise Considerations for e-Disovery

Just about everyone is aware of the fact that the cloud has emerged as incredibly popular in 2018. However, this is not to say the cloud is superior over on-premise solutions for e-Discovery or any other legal-related purpose. Here is a quick look at each approach to e-Discovery to help you figure out which is best for your unique law firm.

The Issue of Accessibility

Legal work is becoming increasingly mobile just like nearly every other line of work. It is no longer necessary for attorneys and support staff to do all their work from the office. The primary advantage of cloud-based e-Discovery is it allows your team to access e-Discovery systems on-the-go. This way, you do not need to be in the office in order to work. Opt for the cloud and employees will be able to access e-discovery systems as long as they are on a web-enabled device. It does not get any more convenient than that. Furthermore, systems based on the cloud also feature mobile apps that empower users to work in unison even though they are located miles apart.

Reliability

Cloud-based eDiscovery systems are not as vulnerable to interruptions stemming from power outages and natural disasters as they rely on backup systems that tend to be more reliable. In fact, software as a service (SaaS) vendors are able to manage system upgrades and updates in strategic ways to prevent disruptions. The same cannot be said of comparably unreliable on-premise systems.

What About Scalability?

Scalability is another key advantage of cloud-based storage over on-premise storage. If you opt for on-premise storage, you will have to figure out how much storage is necessary at the moment as well as across posterity. If you run low on storage, it will be challenging to add additional servers. Furthermore, there is a chance you will overestimate the amount of storage necessary and end up paying for storage you do not actually use.

Cloud-based storage is not as flexible. Use this technology for e-Discovery from a respected vendor and the full system will be at your disposal. It does not matter if you need additional processing power or storage; you can modify your subscription plan as appropriate and scale whenever necessary. The icing on the cake is that you will save money with this approach as you do not have to shell out for storage that has gone unused.

Security

Security should be at the forefront of your concerns yet there is no reason to be paranoid about the cloud simply because it is off-site. Though on-premise software allows for hands-on control and guarantees security by way of the company firewall, the cloud is also secure. Though the cloud had security concerns when it first hit the scene, such concerns have been remedied for the most part. The question is whether you are willing to yield control and put your trust in the cloud.