Cloud computing for lawyers, not dummies!

Some folks think cloud computing should be named cloudy computing, because it is precipitous, vague, messy, hazy and unpredictable ;-)

The term "cloud computing" seems to encompass everything - including the kitchen sink!

However, the cloud is with us and here to stay!

Traditional legal business applications have often been very complicated. The amount and variety of hardware and software required to run them can be quite daunting and expensive. Law firms often need a whole team of experts to install, configure, test, run, secure, and update them.

Legal business applications are moving to the cloud. It’s not just a fad - the shift from traditional software models to the Internet has steadily gained momentum over the last 10 years. Looking forward, the next decade of cloud computing promises new ways to collaborate everywhere, anytime; especially through mobile devices.

Many companies have adopted the cloud to save money. Some say it can be safer, as it’s harder to lose data in a cloud (for example, if a company’s computers are destroyed in a fire, its cloud-based information will still exist). Large cloud providers have multiple backups/fail-safe provisions.

So what is the cloud really? “A computer network to store, access and share data from Internet-connected devices?”

And what about cloud computing then? “The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server?”.

Still confused? In the end, we like "the cloud is the internet as a business or consumer platform".

Simple!