The Mystery of the Cloud: Why Small Law Firms Are Moving to Cloud-Based eDiscovery

28 December 2017 by Anith Mathai GoldFynch eDiscovery
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What is the Cloud? How does it cut eDiscovery costs? Is it safe? And where can you get Cloud-based eDiscovery?

eDiscovery means large amounts of digital data.

So, you have hundreds (or even thousands) of Word documents, PDFs, emails, etc. And even when you have paper documents, you usually scan them anyway — which makes them digital.

But where do you store all this data?

Option 1: Store the data on your own servers. This is called ‘on-premises’ hosting. And at first glance, it seems like the easiest and safest option. The problem is it costs a lot and needs a lot of technical know-how. You have to install specialized hardware and software (which can be a long and complicated process), and you have to maintain them yourself. You also need to use advanced digital security to protect your data from viruses, malware and theft. This isn’t ideal for small and solo law firms like yours.

Option 2: Store the data on your eDiscovery vendor’s servers. They’ll have a ‘server farm’ and will back up your data on multiple servers. Your vendor maintains the servers for you, so it’s a step up from the on-premises solution. But it still costs a lot because private server farms are expensive to run. They eat a lot of electricity, are routinely hacked, need infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters, and require trained IT personnel to manage them 24/7.

Option 3: Store your data in the ‘Cloud.’ Cloud-hosting has been around for a long time. In fact, if you use Dropbox, Google Drive, or any Apple product, then you’re already in the Cloud. Software giants like Amazon and Google lease storage and computing power to businesses all over the world. And their thousands of interconnected servers form a public ‘cloud.’ The more people there are in the Cloud, the less the costs for each. That’s the beauty of cloud economics, and it means you pay much less than if you were using the private servers we discussed in option 2 above.

Cloud-computing transforms eDiscovery. It gives you the tools of larger law firms, for a fraction of the cost.

Take the eDiscovery platform GoldFynch, for example.

  • You don’t have to install hardware. It runs in the Cloud, so there’s nothing to install. And no large, up-front investment on infrastructure.
  • Someone else handles the software. The GoldFynch team updates it and fixes bugs, so you don’t have to. You won’t need any technical skills or a large IT team to keep the software running. And you don’t have to worry about malware and viruses either.
  • You can access it from anywhere. Just use the closest PC, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. You only need an internet connection. Which means you can work on-the-go.
  • You pay for only what you use. Because GoldFynch runs off the Cloud, storage is easily scalable. Upgrade and get more space when you need it. And, downgrade when you don’t need the space anymore. All in seconds. And with no hidden costs.

But is the Cloud safe?

These are the common questions people have:

  • All my important files are in a central location. Won’t hackers target these Cloud servers? The beauty of Cloud servers is that they come with bank-grade security. Which means your data is as secure with them as your online banking information is with your bank. The data is encrypted, both when it’s being transmitted and when it’s stored. In addition to this ‘virtual’ security, your files also have greater ‘physical’ security. Because they’re backed up on many servers, they’re safe from natural disasters like earthquakes, fires and floods.
  • What happens if the Cloud servers shut down? This rarely happens (note: it could happen to your own servers too). And if it does, technical support is much better in the Cloud. Remember, the best minds don’t go to small companies offering you private servers. They go to Amazon and Google.
  • Will I be cut off from my data if my internet connection goes down? Nope. A $50 mobile hotspot will tide you over periods when you can’t access WiFi.

More and more people are trusting the Cloud to store their data.

According to IBM, 86% of security leaders say their organizations are now moving to the cloud for their crucial documents. And back in 2016, Forbes reported that there would be a 20% bump in worldwide spending on Cloud services (to $141 billion) between 2015 and 2019. With so much going for Cloud-based eDiscovery, it’s easy to see why.

Want to switch to the Cloud? Try GoldFynch.

GoldFynch is an adaptable, Cloud-based eDiscovery app. And it’s designed for small law firms like yours.

  • Start working immediately with a free starter case. Like we mentioned, there’s no hardware to install or software to upgrade. GoldFynch runs in the Cloud and you access it through your web browser.
  • Get the best eDiscovery tools. Like, searching, tagging and ‘producing’ files. And redacting privileged information. We’ve chosen the most important tools and worked hard to refine them.
  • Simple, up-front, transparent pricing. We have fixed plans with fixed prices. So, you know what you’re going to be paying, up-front. Which makes it easy to budget for your eDiscovery. You won’t be bothered with sales calls or emails. And you won’t need a credit card to start working. Learn more about how GoldFynch’s pricing works.
  • Pay less than for any other eDiscovery solution. Just $27 a month for a basic case. That’s much less—every month—than the nearest comparable software. And hundreds of dollars cheaper than many others.

Want to learn more about GoldFynch?

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