5 Strategies for Law Offices and Accounting Firms to Reduce Ongoing Business Expenses, Ramp Up Productivity and Improve Financial Health Through Technology
The smart implementation of technology can be a challenge for any small business. For law offices and accounting firms, though, it can mean the difference between retaining and losing clients.
Privacy and security are always paramount issues for law offices and accounting firms. Both lawyers and accountants handle the sort of sensitive data that hackers crave. However, there are other IT-related concerns to consider, including server and system downtime, BYOD policies, and disaster recovery.
Despite all these concerns, some small law and accounting firms try to operate without dependable IT support. For those businesses, we offer these five information technology strategies for improving productivity and protecting profits through technology.
Information Technology Strategies for Law Offices and Accounting Firms
Tip #1: Implement a secure teamwork and communication app such as Microsoft Teams.
According to a recent study, 80% of employee time gets spent collaborating with others. If you don’t foster a collaborative environment for your workers, your business grows less agile. With a productivity app like Microsoft Teams, you get all the tools you need in one place. At the same time, the robust communication features in Teams can replace your entire in-house phone system. Best of all, it comes with the ironclad security of Microsoft.
Tip#2: Embrace the power of automation and artificial intelligence (AI).
In recent years, automation and AI started taking over many traditional accounting duties. Time-intensive tasks such as compiling financial statements and tax returns now get done with a fraction of the effort. However, some businesses remain reluctant to replace manual assignments with automation. Instead, you should consider other areas of your business that could get automated. More automation could free you and other top employees to concentrate on higher-value tasks.
Tip #3: Make cybersecurity a primary business priority.
Since they handle valuable data, law offices and accounting firms of all sizes need enterprise-level security. Firewalls and spam protection are essential, but that’s not enough to protect your perimeter anymore. Inattentive, poorly trained employees unfamiliar with basic IT practices can unknowingly create security vulnerabilities in your network. With proper security awareness training, though, they will learn how to fight off the phishing schemes that lead to data breaches.
Tip #4: Boost data protection by moving everything to the cloud.
In previous years, enterprise companies dominated the cloud. Today, cloud technology forms the backbone of the online strategies of many small to medium-sized businesses. However, moving to the cloud does not happen overnight. An IT consulting company can help companies to navigate this path. Meanwhile, a managed data backup service offers a hands-off, cost-effective way to protect and recover your company data from common threats.
Tip #5: Work with a reliable and experienced managed service provider (MSP).
Accountants often have difficulty dealing with software updates. Lawyers tend to struggle with finding the right technology for their needs. However, a quality managed service provider takes care of these and most other IT-related concerns. MSPs can handle all the tasks mentioned above, as well as software patch management, dark web scans, on-site support, and much more.
For law offices and accounting firms, though, it remains essential to work an MSP with experience in their verticals. At Capital Network Solutions, for example, we serve as the IT department for dozens of Sacramento businesses in all industries. Our security and information technology strategies keep their networks and devices healthy and safe.
If you think that your business technology situation could improve, schedule a free consultation below.
