DPS Software's Managing Director talked about the challenges associated with managing your technology in-house and the benefits of hosted IT at a recent legal technology event that took place in London. Here's the seminar transcript.

1. Moving to the cloud
The next growth
strategy for
law firms?
Our MD’s presentation
at Legalex 2014

2. About Osman Ismail
Osman Ismail has guided DPS Software through its 30 year
history since he established the company in 1984.
His continuing enthusiasm to get ‘hands on’ and work
directly with clients ensures he is always in touch with new
trends in a changing legal market.

3. About DPS Software
DPS Software are one of the leading independent
legal case management software and hosted IT
solutions providers in the UK, servicing law firms
across the country.

4. Terminology can be confusing
Cloud computing
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

5. ‘The cloud’ is not a new concept.
It’s an idea that has been
repackaged.
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

6. The concept of cloud computing
finds its roots in
Hosted IT
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

7. Case management
software
Legal accounting system
Digital dictation
Anti-virus software
Email hosting
Microsoft Office suite
(Word, Excel, Outlook
Office)
Third party applications
Osman Ismail’s presentation- Legalex 2014

8. Hosted IT
- It’s all about focusing on your own business
Focus on your legal work and not on managing your technology.
- It’s all about managing costs
Fixed costs can be funded from OpEx (Operational Expenses) so you can
fund more important projects from your CapEx.
- It’s all about holistic services whereby you entrust your IT to a 3rd
party
A hosted IT solution provides you with all the software applications and
the server infrastructure you need to work on a daily basis.
www.dpscloud.com
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

9. You’ll to get on with your law
and the other company will
get on with their IT.
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

10. Let’s have a look at your
business right now
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

11. …and look at how you
manage IT in your office

12. Every
3 to 5 years
you’ll have to support the
following costs
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

13. Server hardware and
systems software
Your software should be
functional for about 5 years
but then new software will
make it relatively useless.
This means that you will
have to replace it.
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

14. Server hardware and
systems software
Your system will reach
maximum efficiency 6 months
to 2 years after its
implementation.
After its 2nd year, its efficiency
will start decreasing. After 4
years, this can be as low as
50% or less…
…which will have an impact
on your firm’s performance.
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20
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50
60
70
80
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100
0
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Efficiency v Age

15. Just like a car, your system
becomes less and less
efficient with the time
But the process is accelerated…
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

16. When its efficiency reaches
its lowest point,
you will need to replace your
hardware and software
and start from zero again

17. …going through
the same cycle one more
time
Buy new hardware and
software Replace your hardware
and software
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100
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Expenditure over years 1 - 5

18. How can you escape this
cycle?

19. By moving to the cloud
With the help of
a specialist IT provider

20. Hosted IT =
Your technology solutions
delivered over the Internet
Entrust the management of your IT
to a specialist company
& access your software via the cloud
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

21. = less costs
= less hassle
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

22. When should you consider
Hosted IT?
If your IT systems are
relatively new then it’s too
early for you to contemplate
this option.
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20
30
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50
60
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100
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Expenditure over years 1 - 5

23. When should you consider
Hosted IT?
If you’re here- year 4 or 5,
then you should definitely
consider going hosted
because you’ll be facing an
important expense soon.
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10
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30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
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1
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Expenditure over years 1 - 5

24. So do the maths
considering where you are
on the IT expenditure graph
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

25. What type of firms
are considering Hosted IT?
Large firms & Small firms
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

26. Hosting is becoming
more and more popular
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014
This is the year-on-
year growth
experienced by our
company.
DPS is now hosting
over 100 practices.

27. Here’s why
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

28. Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014
Law firms want
to escape this
cycle
‘’We can’t go on
this way’’
Buy hardware, see it go
out of date
Rebuy hardware, see it
go out of date

29. Besides this
Connecting to the Internet is
so much cheaper
…
making the model more
accessible & thus more
popular
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

30. +
Hosted IT
protects your firm from
disasters
Which occur more often than you may think
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

31. So how could
IT
benefit your business?
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

32. Watch this seminar…
to find out
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014

33. …and learn
-how you should choose your
hosting provider- the questions
to ask and the matters to consider
-What type of services you
should be offered as part of a hosted IT
solution
Osman Ismail- Legalex 2014