Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Understanding and Mitigating the Legal Risks of Cloud Computing
It is no secret that an increasing number of enterprises are investing in cloud computing. Whether they are replacing on-premise applications or traditional outsourcing models, rising costs and technical complexity have led organizations to look to third-party providers for some or all of their information technology needs. There can be significant economic efficiencies realized by moving to the cloud. But, just as important are potential benefits associated with data privacy and security, compliance, business intelligence and overall information governance improvements. Entities often struggle with establishing comprehensive information governance programs that capitalize on the value of their information assets while avoiding the risks of ungoverned information. Cloud providers are increasingly aware of these challenges and are shaping cloud solutions to overcome them. That said, there are also potential risks involved if an entity does not adequately consider the information governance implications, especially those involving electronic discovery, when moving to the cloud.
Cloud computing leverages economies of scale to reduce inefficiency and improve performance of IT operations. Essentially, there are three categories of cloud service models ' Infrastructure, Platform, and Software-as-a-Service, commonly referred to as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, respectively. Infrastructure-as-a-Service involves outsourcing of equipment or hardware to support IT operations. IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services, Rackspace, and Nirvanix, among others. PaaS also includes outsourcing of hardware and includes providers like Microsoft Azure and Google Apps. The difference between infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service is typically around control. With IaaS, a client is usually responsible for the configuration and maintenance of operating systems, whereas with PaaS, the service provider manages those responsibilities. Lastly, there is Software-as-a-Service, which is a software distribution model where applications or programs are hosted by a third-party provider and are made available over a network, usually the Internet. SaaS providers include SalesForce.com and CaseCentral, among others.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTs
A federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.
Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It
Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?
Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners
Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?