Thinking of storing information in the cloud? PRI knows the questions you should ask.

The Bar's Technology Committee--in partnership with the Practice Resource Institute --pulled together the information lawyers should consider when selecting a cloud service provider.

"Two things are happening more than ever right now: Lawyers are using the cloud to store sensitive information; and lawyers are under attack from cyber criminals looking to steal sensitive information," said Tech Committee Chair Al Saikali, who also chairs the Privacy and Data Security Practice area at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. "It was therefore important to develop a document that teaches lawyers about the cybersecurity and legal issues associated with the storage of cloud service providers."

The "Quick Start Guide on Cloud Computing" answers basic questions, such as what cloud computing means and where information is stored, and it suggests questions to ask of a potential provider. It may be found on page 15 of this News and on the PRI website at pri.floridabar.org.

The committee also annotated a longer, more detailed, list of standards for cloud computing in its "Due Diligence Considerations for Lawyers Evaluating Cloud Computing Service Providers," incorporating information from the Legal Cloud Computing Association. Areas of concern for lawyers include whether the information is encrypted, if the information will be shared, how data breaches can be prevented, whether that data can later be moved to a different provider and whether the provider is in compliance with security and privacy legal frameworks.

It may be found on the PRI website at pri.floridabar.org.

"This guide is really going to be of huge benefit to our solo and small firm practitioners to help them understand the benefits and risks associated with the cloud and how to properly vet a possible cloud services provider," said John M. Stewart...