by Scott Jack
Content Contributor, E-N Computers
More than a decade of experience in technical support including end user support, mobile device management, application deployment, and documentation.
Law firms need IT that protects sensitive information, is reliable, supports remote work, and comes with up-to-date documentation.
This case study considers those challenges and gives examples of two law firms that have benefited from managed IT services.
Managed IT services from a reputable vendor include:
- responsive help desk support by phone or email
- proactive maintenance
- cybersecurity, network monitoring, and incident response
- backups and disaster recovery
- strategic consulting
- cost management
QUICK ANSWER:
How do law practices benefit from E-N Computers’ managed IT services?
E-N Computers provides law firms with comprehensive IT support. Our friendly, responsive team can be reached by phone, email, and online support wizard. Proactive maintenance, centralized management, reliable onsite and offsite backups, and security controls improve system reliability and performance and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and data loss. Firms can enjoy the flexibility of hybrid and remote work without sacrificing confidentiality.
IT challenges at law firms
Law firms in particular need reliability and security, especially for client records. Are you struggling with any of these?
Protection of sensitive information. Law firms handle sensitive information including medical and financial records, legal strategies, and client communications. Systems must be designed to protect data against unauthorized access, theft, loss, or manipulation.
Reliability. Unexpected software updates and hardware replacements have the potential to disrupt operations and cause delays. Poorly designed systems and patchwork solutions can be unstable and require more time to keep running or recover when there is a problem.
Remote work. Attorneys and staff may work in the office, at home, or from another location. IT systems must be designed to balance security and productivity.
Documentation. Technical documentation helps with troubleshooting, meeting compliance requirements, and allowing smooth transitions as staff changes. Small law firms particularly struggle with keeping updated documentation, which can wreak havoc when a solo IT professional unexpectedly leaves or you want to change providers.
Small law firms particularly struggle with keeping updated documentation, which can wreak havoc when a solo IT professional unexpectedly leaves or you want to change providers.
Firm One: Small multi-disciplinary law practice
Firm One is a small multi-disciplinary law practice in Charlottesville, Virginia with 12 staff, including four attorneys. Areas of practice include business, real estate, family, and traffic law, among others.
When their one-man IT service provider died, all his knowledge and documentation about their systems died with him.
Challenges
Firm One faced several challenges. When their one-man IT service provider died, all his knowledge and documentation about their systems died with him. They had an inefficient setup with conflicting onsite and cloud-based file storage solutions. And their systems were not well-designed or centrally managed, with inadequate backups.
Solutions
During onboarding and stabilization, we regained access and replaced systems. As we did, we created documentation and made it available to the firm through our client portal.
File storage was simplified to reduce issues with syncing and finding the current, correct version of each file. Systems are now centrally managed and monitored to ensure performance and security. We implemented a better backup solution that incorporates onsite and offsite backups with partial restore tests completed on a regular basis.
Results
Firm One now has professionally managed and documented systems that are not subject to a single point of failure. They have full access to documentation about their network. They also have streamlined file storage so that everyone can find what they need quickly.
Firm Two: Small consumer law practice
Firm Two is a consumer rights and fraud litigation practice with one attorney and three staff members. The firm provides personalized legal services in a friendly and responsive manner.
Challenges
The client has a distributed workforce with two employees in the office and two working remotely. They require reliable backups and security measures to protect their data.
A key requirement is personable IT support that can be reached by phone, as their previous IT provider only offered communication via email or text.
They were also dealing with poor IT documentation. Overall, the client wants to be able to trust their IT provider so that they can focus on their practice.
Solutions
E-N Computers started their IT services with onboarding and stabilization. This process includes documentation, installation of management tools, and configuration of backups. While attempting to document and gain access to the client’s systems, we found that their existing documentation was lacking and their previous IT provider was uncooperative. To overcome this, some systems were replaced.
After onboarding and stabilization was completed, the E-N Computers service team showed the client’s staff how to access support by phone, email, support wizard, or the support icon on managed computers. Our Virginia-based help desk is staffed by friendly professionals who work quickly to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
Onsite and offsite backups were configured and are regularly tested via partial restore.
Results
The solutions implemented by E-N Computers provide Firm Two with several benefits. These include improved security from system replacements and comprehensive documentation; enhanced system reliability and stability; streamlined, multi-channel support access via a responsive help desk; reliable, tested onsite and offsite backups for disaster recovery; and overall improved IT management leading to increased efficiency and less downtime.
What you can do
These case studies highlight key findings for law firms looking to improve their IT setup.
Documentation is essential. Lack of documentation is a common struggle that makes it difficult to troubleshoot problems and maintain systems. Law firms need up-to-date documentation for all of their IT systems.
Centralized management and monitoring are important. An intricate patchwork of onsite and cloud solutions and lack of central management makes it difficult to manage systems effectively. Law firms should consider using a centralized management and monitoring solution to know what’s going on with their IT infrastructure and improve security.
Regular backups are critical. Backups are a form of data protection. Law firms need a reliable backup solution that includes both onsite and offsite backups and regular tests of those backups.
Partner with a reliable IT provider. Reputable IT providers can help you manage your IT infrastructure and resolve issues quickly and efficiently. They should be accessible by phone and online, and have established processes for proactive maintenance and network monitoring.
About E-N Computers
We manage and support a full range of technologies including networks, cloud, servers, phone systems, video surveillance, Internet, and copiers. Our customers experience full service at a fraction of the cost of hiring full-time experts.
E-N Computers has been in business since 1997. Over our 25+ years in business, we have grown to be recognized as one of the leading managed service providers in the USA. We support 40 organizations who have 1,600 employees. Since 2018, we have been included on the Channel Futures MSP501 list of the top 501 managed service providers in the world. This places us among the top 5 MSPs in Virginia.
We assist clients in industries like healthcare, education, manufacturing, and law with regulatory compliance and data protection. We have extensive experience serving nonprofit organizations, local and state government agencies, NGOs, and professional organizations nationwide.
Our headquarters, data center, and main support offices are in Waynesboro, Virginia.
Next Steps
When you have the right people working together, you can implement systems and processes that actively help you reach your business goals. We sometimes call this IT maturity. But for many organizations, something is off when it comes to their partnerships, strategy, systems, and settings. How can you know what’s working well and where you have room for improvement? Start by taking our free IT Maturity Self-Assessment. You’ll walk away with some pointers and, if you want, a free appointment to discuss your results.
Not sure if you need managed IT services?
Take the IT Maturity Self-Assessment
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