The document discusses moving a law firm's IT infrastructure to the cloud to address issues with an aging server, data storage needs, collaboration, security, and costs. It outlines the benefits of cloud computing like scalability, accessibility, efficiency, savings, and competitive advantage. The firm implemented a virtual desktop solution in the cloud which provided faster access, no downtime, better collaboration, and eliminated infrastructure costs while improving security, backup, and performance over the firm's existing system.

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

2. Definition Cloud 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 Technology working definition

3. Our Definition Happy, Productive Lawyer Cloud Technical Stuff

4. A New Entrepreneurial Business Model 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

5. Our Environment 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

6. Our Environment Virtual Power Users Remote access a must! Collaboration vital to providing efficiencies and value

7. Need to store and quickly access large amounts 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 Environment

8. Circumstances 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

9. Circumstances 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

10. The Tipping Point Accidental deletion of one portion of a single client file took 1 ½ weeks to restore!

11. Examining 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

12. Examining 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!

13. Does continuing on the same path and expanding our internal infrastructure make sense? The Question to Paragon:

14. The Answer… A disruptive business model demands disruptive technology, so…

15. Rent the Power! Small increase in maintenance costs translate to 100% uptime $800 monthly savings in phone lines per switch to VOip at datacenter Real savings realized in terms of the costs of not being fully operational!

16. The Business Case A 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!

17. Service 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!

18. The Cloud: Management 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

19. The Cloud: User Perspective Wicked Fast! Anywhere, anytime access! No downtime! Better collaboration!

20. Life in the Clouds Cloud Computing Gives Our Business a Competitive Edge! Virtualization Scalability Accessibility Management Ease Efficiency Flexibility Agility Automation Savings

21. Paragon 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!

22. Ensuring Bandwidth P2P 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!

23. Virtual 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

24. Licensing 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)

25. 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 Concern

26. Questions?

27. Thank You! For Further Questions: [p] 612.746.2560 [f] 612.746.2561 [email_address] Ben Skjold Litigation & Business Attorney Licensed in MN and IL www. skjold-barthel.com