Why Microsoft Azure is ideal for eDiscovery

The ever-increasing volume of data generated by businesses presents significant challenges to law firms and corporate legal departments. Electronic discovery (eDiscovery) is the process of identifying, collecting, processing, and reviewing electronic documents for use as evidence in legal proceedings. eDiscovery involves large volumes of unstructured data, which can be challenging to manage and analyze. Microsoft Azure cloud and its ecosystem of services can provide a robust foundation for eDiscovery practice. This blog explores why Microsoft Azure should form the basis of an eDiscovery practice, the limitations of virtual machines (VM), the advantages of using elastic SaaS solutions built on Azure, the extent of unstructured data in eDiscovery, and the need for a high-performance, low-cost solution to this data.

Why Microsoft Azure Cloud and Ecosystem Should Form the Basis of Your eDiscovery Practice.

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform that provides a wide range of services, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). The platform offers scalability, flexibility, and security, making it ideal for eDiscovery practice.

First, Azure provides a cost-effective way to scale up or down computing resources as needed. This elasticity is particularly important in eDiscovery, where processing large volumes of data can require significant computing resources. Azure provides the ability to scale up resources for high-performance computing and scale them down when not in use, resulting scalable high performance and cost savings.

Second, Azure provides a compliant platform for eDiscovery. Microsoft Azure meets the highest standards for security and compliance, including HIPAA, ISO 27001, and SOC 1 and 2. Azure also provides extensive auditing and logging capabilities, enabling eDiscovery teams to track and monitor access to data.

Third, Azure provides connectivity options that enable eDiscovery teams to integrate with existing workflows and applications seamlessly.  The platform also provides Data Factory that allow eDiscovery teams to integrations data across the enterprise without code while maintaining the highest data security. 

Fourth, Security is a top priority for any eDiscovery practice. Microsoft Azure provides a secure environment for eDiscovery processes. Azure offers several security features, including data encryption, access controls, and threat detection. 

Azure also offers advanced security features, such as Azure Sentinel. Azure Sentinel is a cloud-native security information and event management (SIEM) service that provides intelligent security analytics at scale. Azure Sentinel uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to detect threats and respond to them in real-time. Azure Sentinel can help eDiscovery practices to identify and respond to security threats quickly and efficiently.

Finally, Azure offers a wide range of tools and services that can enhance eDiscovery processes. These tools and services include machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, can easily be integrated with Azure based SaaS solutions to help identify relevant documents and reduce review time. 

Limitations of VM (Virtual Machine) and Advantages of Elastic SaaS Solutions Built on Azure.

Virtual machines (VM) are a common approach to running eDiscovery workloads in the cloud. VMs provide a way to run existing applications and workloads in the cloud, but they have limitations compared to elastic SaaS solutions built on Azure.

First, VMs can be challenging to manage and maintain, requiring manual updates and patches. In contrast, SaaS solutions built on Azure are automatically updated and maintained, reducing the workload for eDiscovery teams.

Second, VMs are often sized to meet peak demand, resulting in unused resources during off-peak times. Elastic SaaS solutions built on Azure can automatically scale resources up or down, providing a more efficient and cost-effective approach to eDiscovery.

Third, VMs can be expensive to run, particularly when they are used for short periods. Elastic SaaS solutions built on Azure are billed based on usage, enabling eDiscovery teams to pay only for what they use.

Finally, SaaS solutions built on Azure provide a more streamlined and integrated approach to eDiscovery. These solutions are purpose-built for eDiscovery and provide a range of features and tools specific to the needs of eDiscovery teams.

Extent of Unstructured Data in eDiscovery and the Need for a High-Performance, Low-Cost Solution

Unstructured data, such as email, email attachments, and documents, represent a significant portion of the data involved in eDiscovery. According to a survey conducted by Osterman Research, unstructured data accounts for more than 70% of the data involved in eDiscovery. Managing and analyzing this data can be challenging, as it often resides in disparate systems and formats.

A high-performance, low-cost solution is required to manage and analyze unstructured data in eDiscovery. SaaS solutions built on Azure can also take advantage of Azure's ecosystem of services, such as AI and machine learning, to automate and streamline eDiscovery processes.

 Industry Data

Industry data also supports the use of Microsoft Azure for eDiscovery. A survey conducted by EDRM found that 26% of eDiscovery professionals are using or planning to use Microsoft Azure for eDiscovery. The same survey found that 46% of eDiscovery professionals are using or planning to use cloud-based eDiscovery solutions.

Several organizations have already adopted Microsoft Azure for their eDiscovery needs. For example, the State of Texas adopted Microsoft Azure to support its eDiscovery process. The State of Texas needed to manage large volumes of data and reduce the cost and time required for eDiscovery. By using Microsoft Azure, the State of Texas was able to reduce the time and cost of eDiscovery by 50%.

According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the eDiscovery market is expected to grow from $9.3 billion in 2020 to $12.9 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. This growth is driven by several factors, including the increasing volume of digital data, the need for regulatory compliance, and the growth of cloud-based eDiscovery solutions.

Conclusion

Microsoft Azure cloud and its ecosystem of services provide a robust foundation for eDiscovery practice. Azure provides scalability, flexibility, and security, making it ideal for eDiscovery. Elastic SaaS solutions built on Azure provide a more streamlined and integrated approach to eDiscovery than VMs. The extent of unstructured data in eDiscovery requires a high-performance, low-cost solution elastic SaaS based solution.  Security and connectivity are essential considerations in eDiscovery, and Microsoft Azure provides extensive features in these areas. Finally, examples and industry data support the use of Microsoft Azure for eDiscovery, making it a compelling choice for eDiscovery teams.