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The Green Lining in Cloud The Green Lining in Cloud Computing: Computing: A Model for Professional Service A Model for Professional Service Organizations Organizations

Cloud Computing for Professional Services

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The green lining in this cloud has less to do with the environment and everything to do with the bottom line – increased productivity, efficiency and ease of management. This session will explore a model that requires a fundamental business shift in both capital investment and attitude, reviewing the real world challenges and opportunities a services firm has experienced moving to the cloud.

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Page 1: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

The Green Lining in Cloud The Green Lining in Cloud Computing:Computing:

A Model for Professional Service A Model for Professional Service OrganizationsOrganizations

Page 2: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

DefinitionDefinitionCloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous,

convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.

National Institute of Standards and Technologyworking definition

Page 3: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Happy, Productive Lawyer

Cloud

Technical Stuff

Our DefinitionOur Definition

Page 4: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

A New A New EntrepreneurialEntrepreneurial Business Business Model for LawModel for Law

Progressive, forward-thinking business whose business is law

Virtual environment, collaborative model Flexible, agile with responsible allocation of

resources Maximize each professional’s contribution and the value

to clients Scalability to rapidly adjust to client needs

Page 5: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Our EnvironmentOur EnvironmentComplex, data intensive applications Complex, data intensive applications

Law practice content management systems Document management platforms Secure email networks Digital dictation services Billing/accounting/timekeeping service Web/design and other marketing applications Office - including outlook scheduling Integration with legal mgmt calendars, smart phones,

VOip

Page 6: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Our EnvironmentOur EnvironmentVirtual Power UsersVirtual Power Users

Remote access a must! Collaboration vital to providing efficiencies and

value

Page 7: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Need to store and quickly access large Need to store and quickly access large amounts of dataamounts of data Scalable Litigation Model

Massive file sizes in litigation - hundreds if not thousands of pages of scanned documents, emails, photographs, audio/video, etc.

Strict data retention and chain of custody requirements

Need to scale quickly and seamlessly

Our EnvironmentOur Environment

Page 8: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Circumstances for ChangeCircumstances for Change Existing server unable to handle massive and

growing volume of digital documents Work flow nearly crippled Inability to handle existing load let alone scale to meet

litigation case loads

Page 9: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Circumstances for ChangeCircumstances for Change Network slow downs

“Hurry up and wait” - slow response caused frustrations, lost time, lower productivity

When programs hung, users tempted to hang themselves!

Costly and disruptive to implement, maintain, and upgrade multiple applications Version control issues Licensing headaches

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The Tipping PointThe Tipping Point

Accidental deletion of one portion of a single client file took 1 ½ weeks to restore!

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Examining Our OptionsExamining Our Options Review Capital Expenditures

4K to replace existing server - stop-gap measure 30K in anticipated capital expenditures that still didn’t

provide enough room for future growth Face Security Issues

Private client files stored in relatively unsecure location

Cleaning crews, maintenance workers, etc. Potential to walk off with server, accidentally unplug or spill

a coke

Page 12: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Examining Our OptionsExamining Our Options Analyze costs of downtime, slowdowns

Estimated cost of 10K daily in event of catastrophic failure

Client Value Clients deserve real value for time billed

Quality of life/professional costs Staff dissatisfaction, frustration, etc.

More productivity = increased revenue and more free time!

Page 13: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Does continuing on the same path and expanding our internal infrastructure

make sense?

The Question to Paragon:The Question to Paragon:

Page 14: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

The Answer…The Answer…

A disruptive business model

demands disruptive

technology, so…

Page 15: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Rent the Power!Rent the Power! Small increase in maintenance costs Small increase in maintenance costs

translate to 100% uptimetranslate to 100% uptime $800 monthly savings in phone lines per $800 monthly savings in phone lines per

switch to VOip at datacenterswitch to VOip at datacenter Real savings realized in terms of the Real savings realized in terms of the

costs of not being fully operational!costs of not being fully operational!

Page 16: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

The Business Case The Business Case A Business Case That Makes SenseA Business Case That Makes Sense

We are a service organization NOT capital intensive Service = cash

A means to lower both capital expenditure and operational expenditures

Cost savings, power savings, green savings Increased agility Platform for collaboration and innovation Let’s us do what we do best - practice law!

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Service BenefitsService Benefits Competitive Advantage

Speed to market Great equalizer via larger firms - we can’t pass the buck

if something goes wrong Ease of access – user not tied to geographic location Data protection IT efficiencies Scalability as needed No downtime!

Page 18: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

The Cloud:The Cloud:Management PerspectiveManagement Perspective

Virtually eliminates infrastructure costs Scales to extreme workloads quickly and easily Remote access from anywhere is a given Levels of security, backup, redundancy and performance

that go far beyond what the typical law firm can imagine. Paragon takes care of patches, updates and other

administration. Technology costs become utility costs; monthly service fee

that you can easily budget for

Page 19: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

The Cloud: The Cloud: User PerspectiveUser Perspective

Wicked Fast!Anywhere,

anytime access!

No downtime!

Better collaboration

!

Page 20: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Life in the CloudsLife in the Clouds

Cloud Computing Gives Our Business a Cloud Computing Gives Our Business a Competitive Edge!Competitive Edge!

Virtualization

Scalability

Accessibility

Management Ease

Efficiency

Flexibility

AgilityAutomation

Savings

Page 21: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Paragon ImplementationParagon Implementation Internal barriers few due to size and structure of

firm, relative sophistication of users Fear of changing established mode of operation Loss of control; concern over personalization

Ability to download programs, add-ons, etc.

Bandwidth Process-intensive applications with multiple users Chain of custody concerns

Migration On site server in poor state, data migration was delicate SW was a snap!

Page 22: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Ensuring BandwidthEnsuring BandwidthP2P network - distributes

processing power, disk storage or network bandwidth across multiple nodes, always directly accessible by the users 10M data per seconds

Equal to The Complete Works of Shakespeare x 2!

Page 23: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Virtual NetworkVirtual Network vmware® platform

vmview - virtual desktop in datacenter Virtual Ethernet adapters and virtual switches

Pano Logic Zero Client Desktop No CPU, storage, drivers, or operating system = no

end-point management Moves 100% of the processing power and

management to the data center Familiar user experience - look and feel

Page 24: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

LicensingLicensing SW licensing-service provider licensing Microsoft

Old model, pay per license New model- pay by month

per user easily upgraded, no legacy, updates

Other SW products still purchased traditional way, but managed centrally (Saas)

Page 25: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Previously, nothing preventing internal or external threats to server housed at firm Dependent on maintaining protocols

Virtual solution “plugs gaps” of traditional security systems Shifting public data to a external cloud reduces the

exposure of the internal sensitive data Cloud homogeneity makes security auditing/testing simpler Clouds enable automated security management Redundancy / Disaster Recovery

Security – A Key ConcernSecurity – A Key Concern

Page 26: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Questions?Questions?

Page 27: Cloud Computing for Professional Services

Thank You! Thank You! For Further Questions:For Further Questions:

[p] 612.746.2560 [f] 612.746.2561 [email protected]

Ben SkjoldLitigation & Business Attorney Licensed in MN and IL

www. skjold-barthel.comwww. skjold-barthel.com