We’re beginning our ‘Data access v security tips’ blog series, adapted from our new eBook, with an introduction by our Executive Chairman Julian Bryan on how now’s the time to offer flexible working via accessible systems for your staff while tackling potential cybersecurity risks. After all, the traditional 9-to-5, desk-based working day exists no more.

 

There’s never been a better time than NOW

By Julian Bryan, Executive Chairman

Times are changing. The combination of cost-effective broadband, cloud computing, and improved browser-based technologies has facilitated a revolutionary environment where working from home or the office is no longer so different.

This has had a major impact on law firms. In the same way that we no longer walk into our local bank on the high street, we no longer need to travel to our offices to access our practice management systems.

For that reason, data accessibility has never been more important for law firms than it is today. Greater accessibility enables employees to work when and where it suits them, and law firms who recognise this are profiting as a result.

But with greater accessibility comes greater security risks. As you try to empower your employees with flexibility, you might find yourself asking: “How do I get the balance right between data accessibility and data security?”

That’s what we’re here to show you. In this blog and subsequent blogs in the series, you’ll discover why delivering accessible data is necessary RIGHT NOW. You’ll learn what you need to consider when delivering data on the go and how to manage data using the cloud. But you’ll also learn what the security risks are, how they might be addressed and why future trends are important.

By the end of this blog series, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to begin ditching your legacy hardware and to start managing your practice with a cloud-based software like Quill.

At Quill, we’ve partnered with Google to give our clients the best possible protection against cyber threats. Read on and discover the secrets for yourself.

 

The death of the 9 to 5

“Tumble out of bed and stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition, and yawn and stretch and try to come to life.”

For many law firm employees, Dolly Parton’s famous words are a daily reality. But with the advent of newer, more human-centric technologies, people are starting to realise there’s a better life out there, and are moving away from traditional ways of working.

So, what does the current working week look like for law firms? We analysed the activity of 10,000+ Quill users, a number representing around 7% of all law firms across England, Wales and Scotland. Here’s what we found…

Getting ready for the weekend

Daily usage data shows us that far more work gets done at weekends than we might initially expect. In fact, weekend activity makes up roughly two thirds of that of an average weekday. That may sound like a lot, but remember that these users now have the flexibility to work from the comfort of their own home, rather than driving into the office on a Saturday morning to clear the decks.

The work never stops

When you look at the cycle of activity on a daily basis, another interesting pattern emerges. There is someone, somewhere, accessing Quill’s practice management systems every hour of the day. Whether that’s due to preferred working models or whether employees are struggling to complete their tasks within their allocated hours, we don’t know. But what’s fascinating is that 40% of all activity by Quill users is outside the traditional 9 to 5.

 

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