Once the grandparents start telling you to check out the newest family photos they uploaded to the cloud, you know cloud computing has hit Main Street.

Cloud technologies are not only changing the consumer game, but increasingly making headlines within the legal community. Thus, the creation of the Association of Legal Administrators' (ALA) Legal Management magazine's newest addition, my "Thinking Out Cloud" column. The bi-monthly column will deliver insights into legal cloud computing trends and futures; showcase law firm cloud adoption and real world use cases; address cloud computing security and governance issues; navigate popular law firm cloud apps and services; and interview leading legal cloud computing minds.

The inaugural column "Cloud Security … A Competitive Advantage" appears in the March issue. We also recorded a corresponding Legal Management Talk podcast on the topic. Consider it the lazy/mobile person's version of the article.

Here's what you'll discover when reading or listening:

• A few years from now, we won't be talking about cloud technologies, just tech solutions since everything will follow the cloud/SaaS model. Who still uses 'www' when describing a website?
• The security 'S' word is no longer a show stopper when it comes to cloud adoption in law firms.
• Law firm CIOs are realizing (some faster than others) that dedicated cloud providers are much more capable and equipped to handle cloud security and best evolve with the frantic pace of cloud security and compliance requirements.
• Law firms can 'off load' client mandated security technology audits to their cloud providers.
• By embracing true native cloud applications, firms will reap the benefits of the “one-to-many” cloud infrastructure as it evolves and improves through periodic updates. In essence, once in the cloud, the firm can virtually hitchhike, almost for free, on the rate of cloud innovation.
• The Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA) is on to something with its recently published Cloud Security Standards essentially designed to give legal professionals more peace of mind when selecting (and using) true cloud technologies. Beyond the column, check out this Legaltech News article on the LCCA standards including commentary from highly esteemed legal technology folks.

The next issue of Thinking Out Cloud will appear in May, focused on cloud apps and services legal professionals attending ALA's Annual Conference & Expo in late May can look forward to. Interested in Thinking Out Cloud? Drop me a line.