Writeimage CSB Law Firm in Romania Cuts Costs by 60 Per Cent with Cloud-Based Hosted Messaging

Microsoft Online Services Customer Solution Case Study

Law Firm in Romania Cuts Costs by 60 Per Cent with Cloud-Based Messaging Solution

“Compared with the expense of a traditional IT infrastructure, we estimate we’ve cut costs by more than 60 per cent across the law firm.” Alina Lefter, Partner, Dragomir & Associates

Romania-based law firm Dragomir & Associates needed to replace its open-source Linux messaging and collaboration system, which was no longer fit for purpose and lacked the security the company required. Working with Microsoft Partner PRAS Consulting, the firm migrated to Microsoft Business Productivity Online Standard Suite and the Active Directory service. Its costs have fallen by more than 60 per cent, and both security and productivity have improved.

Business Needs The practice was experiencing Dragomir & Associates, a leading legal challenges in maintaining data security practice based in Bucharest, Romania, with its Linux-based email messaging specialises in corporate law, system and file server, which was time- particularly mergers and acquisitions. consuming to maintain. Dragomir also Founded in 1996 and privately owned, wanted to give its employees it is now part of Geneva Group improved features for email storage, International, one of the world’s major collaboration, and working with mobile networks of independent accountants, devices—plus a stable infrastructure consultants, and law firms. with maximum uptime.

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published March 2011 Alina Lefter, Partner at Dragomir & —IT infrastructure costs have been cut Associates, says: “Our most important The legal practice is also using the by more than 60 per cent. concern is data security. In our area of Windows Server 2008 operating professional services, confidentiality is system, Microsoft Office Outlook Business Productivity Online Standard paramount. Having access to the email messaging and collaboration client, Suite helps firm cut costs. Lefter says: “Compared with the expense of a and collaboration infrastructure from and Windows Server Update Services traditional IT infrastructure, we estimate everywhere is another consideration, for security. For the internal network, we’ve cut costs by more than 60 per cent because it avoids having to ask IT PRAS Consulting migrated the across the law firm.” technicians to set up complicated infrastructure to Active Directory. Microsoft technologies provide tight security. Both the cloud-based Business configurations for accessing data.” Productivity Online Standard Suite and Dragomir wanted to benefit from new Lefter says: “Initially, we evaluated the Active Directory give the protection and information worker tools without idea of an in-house messaging and peace of mind required by the customer. making an upfront investment in collaboration system using Microsoft Lefter says: “The confidentiality of our data is not something we can express in hardware and software, while keeping Exchange Server 2007. But we thought figures. If we had an issue with it, it could maintenance costs low. Lefter says: it would be more flexible and cost close our business.” “Based on our previous experience with effective to host our data with Hosted Microsoft Exchange Online an in-house system, we decided that Microsoft Exchange Online and the offers high availability. The hosted our best option was hosting for our Microsoft Business Productivity Online solution is improving performance, stability, and connectivity. Significantly, email infrastructure. We wanted to work Standard Suite.” there has been zero downtime since with a partner in Romania that could deployment. adhere to strict security and PRAS Consulting provides Dragomir Productivity rises by up to 40 per cent. confidentiality policies, and offer with IT consultancy services and takes With the new information worker toolset, Suciu estimates that productivity at the law training for users as well as assistance care of its remaining in-house firm has risen by between 30 and 40 per with the migration of data from the infrastructure. Lefter says: “The partner cent. previous system.” provided training for our users on the Subscription licensing avoids the need Business Productivity Online Standard for upfront investment. Lawyers can use the latest Microsoft Office information Suite, and how to get the most from Solution worker tools without the firm having to Dragomir worked with Microsoft Gold Outlook. The expertise of Microsoft buy licences in advance. Dragomir is using Certified Partner PRAS Consulting, and PRAS Consulting in this market a pay-as-you-go subscription licensing which suggested a cloud-based solution was a key factor in our choosing this model with a Microsoft Volume Licensing solution.” contract covering Windows Server 2008. using Microsoft Online Services—the Single console eases maintenance and software-plus-services approach, with administration. PRAS Consulting access to applications over the internet. Benefits manages all network-related services, Business Productivity Online Standard including software updates. Suciu says: “This is a major benefit because we can Andrei Suciu, Managing Partner at PRAS Suite is providing a secure and stable control everything through a single Consulting, says: “Dragomir deployed infrastructure for staff at the law firm, console. It means we become more of a Microsoft Business Productivity Online many of whom work remotely. With all business consultant than a systems Standard Suite, which includes communication being encrypted, administrator for our customers.” Microsoft Exchange Online and the Dragomir is highly satisfied with the Office suite of information worker level of security it delivers. The firm products.” has also achieved considerable savings

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published March 2011