Introduction.
E&C is a mid-sized law firm in Southeast Asia with an expanding team of attorneys and support staff. Managing sensitive client information is central to their practice, and the firm needed a modern solution to protect case files, guarantee secure access, and ensure data was always available with reliable backup.
In this case study, we explore how deploying a Synology solution for a law firm provided a private cloud storage system that improved collaboration, ensured compliance, and safeguarded valuable legal data with robust backup and disaster recovery.
Note: For confidentiality reasons, the law firm in this case study is represented by a fictional company name. The challenges and solutions are real, but identifying details have been changed to protect client privacy.
Work summary.
Country
Malaysia
Office
Malaysia
Duration
2 weeks
Discipline
Operations
Sector
Professional services
Highlights.
85% faster access
Reported increase in file retrieval and saving speeds for all staff, drastically improving productivity and reducing frustration.
20 minutes recovery time
Reported increase in file retrieval and saving speeds for all staff, drastically improving productivity and reducing frustration.
0% downtime
Since deployment, the firm has experienced zero unscheduled data access downtime, eliminating lost billable hours.
100% data coverage
Achieved complete offsite backup coverage for all critical case files, ensuring full business continuity and compliance.
Objectives.
Before engaging us, the firm faced a critical dilemma: their aging legal file server was an operational bottleneck and a major law firm data security risk. Slow file retrieval and frequent sync errors meant billable hours lost daily. More critically, their current setup made robust legal compliance difficult, and the lack of a proper off-site copy made them vulnerable to disaster or ransomware, risking the firm’s entire future.
Challenges.
The firm’s aging infrastructure created significant challenges that many law firms will find familiar.
🗂 Fragmented storage.
Files were spread across PCs, email attachments, and external drives, making organization and collaboration difficult.
⏱ Downtime risks.
The existing setup created a high risk of outages during client-critical cases, threatening productivity and deadlines.
🔒 Security gaps.
Confidential client data lacked proper safeguards, exposing the firm to potential breaches and compliance issues.
🛑 No backup or recovery.
With no disaster recovery plan or reliable backup, the firm was vulnerable to data loss and ransomware attacks.
For a growing legal practice, these issues were more than just IT problems, they posed serious risks to compliance, productivity, and client trust.
Solution.
To address these concerns, we deployed a Synology NAS solution designed for law firm needs, delivering a secure and scalable private cloud system.
By implementing a Synology-driven legal document management system, the firm gained control of its data without depending on third-party public cloud providers.
—.
- Always-on access. We established the NAS as the central, high-speed storage hub, providing seamless, concurrent access for all staff. We configured the system for data redundancy (RAID) to eliminate local points of failure and ensure an ‘always-on‘ environment.
- Disaster recovery. We then architected the mission-critical cloud backup for law firms. This involved using Synology’s Active Backup for Business to replicate all sensitive client data to a secure, remote location, providing an unassailable offsite backup and a clear business continuity plan.
📁
Centralized access.
Unified storage for case files, accessible firm-wide.
🎛️
High availability.
Always-online storage for uninterrupted workflows.
☁️
Remote backup.
Secure offsite data backup for disaster recovery.
👥
Access controls.
Role-based permissions for client confidentiality.
Massive file storage, made simple.
Store and access large archives on demand, with intuitive file access and robust syncing across offices and teams.
Private cloud for file sharing.
Synology Drive provides a secure private cloud platform for file management and collaboration. Staff can access, synchronize, restore, and back up files seamlessly through desktop clients, mobile apps, or a browser-based interface.
Granular permissions ensure the right people have the right access, while the Admin Console gives full visibility into activity logs, file sharing, and permission changes.
Cross-site syncing & data protection.
Enable efficient file access across locations using SMB or NFS shares over local networks or VPN. Integration with Active Directory/LDAP makes access control straightforward, while advanced snapshot technology safeguards files from accidental deletion or tampering—ensuring business-critical data remains secure and recoverable.
Our biggest concern was achieving a reliable business continuity plan while ensuring law firm data security. The new NAS and offsite backup solution delivered exactly that.
Staff can now access critical case files instantly & securely, whether they’re in the office or remote.
The entire solution just works. We never have to worry about downtime or losing billable hours again. This is true peace of mind.
Edison L
Partner, E&C
Results.
The deployment of the Synology law firm solution delivered measurable improvements.
The firm now operates with the certainty of a proven business continuity plan. Downtime risk has been virtually eliminated, and staff productivity has soared due to secure remote access and faster file retrieval.
Most importantly, the robust offsite backup guarantees near-instant ransomware recovery, protecting the firm’s most valuable assets. This project represents more than a hardware upgrade; it’s a strategic investment in improved data management that secures the firm’s future growth and upholds the highest standards of client confidentiality.
Although this case study uses a fictional client name for confidentiality, the results are real. Many firms are asking: “What is the best way for a law firm to store and protect client files?”
For those considering options, a Synology solution for law firms offers the perfect balance of security, compliance, and flexibility.
⏩
Faster access.
Improved productivity with instant file retrieval.
⚡
Zero downtime.
Reliable availability for case-critical data.
☁️
Full backups.
Offsite backups protect against ransomware.
📈
Scalable.
Future-ready IT infrastructure for growth.
Looking for a proven data strategy?
Contact our team today to implement secure legal storage solutions for your firm.
