Adopting new technology can seem daunting for teams who are already dealing with other challenges. When push comes to shove, it’s easier to stick with what you know, right? But with many office workers expecting to work remotely due to COVID-19, organizations across the globe are being forced to embrace more flexible solutions. Fortunately, modern upgrades are now easier to implement than ever before, thanks to innovations in cloud-computing and collaboration. Cloud-based tools can drastically improve your team’s efficiency while removing many of the headaches you might have become accustomed to. Here are five practical advantages of cloud-based solutions for your remote workforce.
Cloud-based systems are easy to update and maintain
Keeping up with software updates has consistently been one of the biggest challenges faced by law firms and government agencies over the years. Once modern, cloud-based solutions are implemented though, your technical team doesn’t have to worry about any future upgrades or maintaining their record systems. These activities are handled by whomever is hosting your data and can be performed almost seamlessly. This can greatly reduce the amount of downtime or IT interruptions that your team may encounter and save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Sensitive information is kept more secure
Many legacy records systems are physically kept within an agency’s own office or saved to each team member’s individual computer. With a cloud-based system, your files and information are kept on an extremely safe, isolated server with more technical security than you could ever invest in on your own. Furthermore, additional security measures can be implemented, such as single sign-on (SSO) protocols or a virtual private network (VPN). These greatly reduce the risk of important files being mishandled or stolen. This is extremely important for many government agencies and law firms that work with sensitive information.
Lost or damaged materials can be easily recovered
When an entire team is working remotely, Murphy’s Law is put to the test. Laptops crash, coffee spills, and hard work is lost in the blink of an eye. To make matters worse, a separated team doesn’t have the same level of access to IT experts that can save the day. But if you implement a cloud-based filing system, these mountainous calamities become minor molehills. Connected computers can automatically backup case files, emails or digital records to cloud-servers for easy recovery in the case of a disaster. You don’t need to worry if something is physically damaged or lost, which is a lifesaver for remote teams.
Cloud-based systems allow for true mobility, even offline
Implementing a cloud-based storage system allows you and your entire team to access all of the information you need from anywhere that has internet access. No more long email threads between departments trying to track down old documents. Everyone can find whatever they need within the shared system. And if you’re worried about internet outages, know that information stored on cloud-based servers can always be downloaded and saved temporarily for later use offline. With a little planning, your team can keep working even if they get disconnected.
Collaborative tools let your team work closely while being far apart
If everyone uses the same cloud-based system, you enable greater cooperation between every team member and department. Most cloud-based tools allow multiple users to view and edit the same file at the same time. Instead of passing around a copied document with multiple layers of edits, everyone can work at the same time. No more confusion or lost drafts, just collaboration without barriers.
Many of the industry-leading legal solutions from Thomson Reuters were designed to integrate with cloud-computing systems and have similar benefits. Customers can find a host of product support resources that will help you make the most of your tools in a remote setting. If you or your team are struggling to adjust to new, remote-working requirements, you can reconnect and get ahead with a modern, cloud-based system that will support you no matter where you go.
