When we think of “the cloud,” we often think of web-based applications such as Clio and FreshBooks, or the simple cloud storage solutions DropBox and Google Drive. However, there is a lot more to the cloud than just these two types of implementations, and the needs of law firms are often far more sophisticated.
Today’s law firms need robust technology and they are often already committed to existing legal practice management, billing, or accounting software applications. Law firms also have a heightened need for security, compliance, and reliability. For these firms, a Virtual Desktop solution is the perfect fit.
What is a Virtual Desktop?
Sometimes called Desktop-as-a-Service, or DaaS, a cloud service provider replaces the back-end infrastructure of your law firm’s IT platform with a hosted and managed Virtual Desktop. The end-users, you and your staff, utilize the Virtual Desktop to access your applications and documents.
From an end user’s perspective: A user may login from any device (a PC, a Mac, an iPad, etc.). Within the Virtual Desktop, she will find Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook email, practice management, and billing software. And since all of these applications, along with the user’s documents and email, are hosted by a cloud service provider, she can connect from any device, anywhere in the world.
