March 26, 2010
William J.
Platt
Terabytes Became Terrorbytes
by William J. Platt
March 26, 2010
I had an interesting experience the other week with a law firm client and their corporate client regarding the need to process a vast amount of data and the associated costs with the project. It was apparent that there was a lack of understanding of scope and appreciation for the associated costs related to achieving their goals. In my opinion, the scope of work was further reaching than what was needed. I am not a lawyer, but common sense should rule the day over restoring data from an entire network that could amount between 400 and 800 backup tapes and result in a data set that could range from 150 to 200 TB of data, yes I said TB not GB. To put things into perspective, an industry standard storage device used in the eDiscovery business would cost approximately $100,000 for 38 TB of data storage. And as a rule of thumb, I always say the amount of source data you take possession of will increase threefold from start to finish as the source data is copied into our environment, processed, hosted, and eventually productions generated. So for storage infrastructure alone for this project, our investment would reach $1,600,000 and that does not include the actual working hours and royalty fees required to utilize and enterprise tools to complete the project.
The competing need was the law firm who wanted the most comprehensive set of data and the corporate client who wanted reasonable costs associated with the process. The process being the need for effective management of electronically stored information so that appropriate legal representation and advice could be offered.
What should both clients learn from this process?
- Know your scope of the project at the outset: costs and other factors may influence and change the scope, but you need to be flexible because proportionality (common sense) should rule the day.
- Have your homework done in advance of engaging an eDiscovery expert: legal should define the need, the client IT staff provide the required information, and the external expert will provide the guidance, options, and related costs.
- It should not just be about money: although the bottom line and cash flow is king to a business, the cost should be considered in the context of the need and balanced with the approach.
What was I reminded by this experience?
- Just as cash flow is ‘king’ to a business, scope of work is ‘king’ to mine.
- Educating clients to appreciate the magnitude of what is being asked is not always an easy accomplishment.
- It is a fine line to walk to strongly advocate opinions and best practices that are not being heard.
- Planning is just as important as execution
I had an interesting experience the other week with a law firm client and their corporate client regarding the need to process a vast amount of data and the associated costs with the project. It was apparent that there was a lack of understanding of scope and appreciation for the associated costs related to achieving their goals. In my opinion, the scope of work was further reaching than what was needed. I am not a lawyer, but common sense should rule the day over restoring data from an entire network that could amount between 400 and 800 backup tapes and result in a data set that could range from 150 to 200 TB of data, yes I said TB not GB. To put things into perspective, an industry standard storage device used in the eDiscovery business would cost approximately $100,000 for 38 TB of data storage. And as a rule of thumb, I always say the amount of source data you take possession of will increase threefold from start to finish as the source data is copied into our environment, processed, hosted, and eventually productions generated. So for storage infrastructure alone for this project, our investment would reach $1,600,000 and that does not include the actual working hours and royalty fees required to utilize and enterprise tools to complete the project.
The competing need was the law firm who wanted the most comprehensive set of data and the corporate client who wanted reasonable costs associated with the process. The process being the need for effective management of electronically stored information so that appropriate legal representation and advice could be offered.
What should both clients learn from this process?
- Know your scope of the project at the outset: costs and other factors may influence and change the scope, but you need to be flexible because proportionality (common sense) should rule the day.
- Have your homework done in advance of engaging an eDiscovery expert: legal should define the need, the client IT staff provide the required information, and the external expert will provide the guidance, options, and related costs.
- It should not just be about money: although the bottom line and cash flow is king to a business, the cost should be considered in the context of the need and balanced with the approach.
What was I reminded by this experience?
- Just as cash flow is ‘king’ to a business, scope of work is ‘king’ to mine.
- Educating clients to appreciate the magnitude of what is being asked is not always an easy accomplishment.
- It is a fine line to walk to strongly advocate opinions and best practices that are not being heard.
- Planning is just as important as execution
Respond: make a comment | read the 1 comment
Share: Email | Save as PDF | Print
| Bookmark & Share |
| 
More columns on Columns: e-Discovery | from William J. Platt
|
the count:
8639 posts | 11931 comments
recent comments  
Last spring, Meritas’ Leadership Institute released a Social Media Guide for Lawyers. This helpful resource provided lawyers with an overview of the three main social media tools — LinkedIn, Faceb. […] »»Technology Following on our earlier Top 10 Financial Errors posts, this is the first in a series of 10 posts dealing with Cash Flow Reports and in particular, cash flow management.… »»Practice Today’s research tip is about facts. When research is assigned to juniors (and librarians for that matter) it is important to share facts that are critical to the research. It … »»Research
-
-
-
Available online today are four new chapters of the publication Women in Canada: A Gender-based Statistical Report, which explores the socio-demographic and economic circumstances of Canadian women in general.
-
The bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867 by readjusting the number of members and the representation of the provinces in the House of Commons.
-
-
Blueseed plans to buy a ship and turn it into a floating incubator anchored in international waters off the coast of California.
-
Under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the flow of information out of Ottawa has slowed to a trickle.
-
-
"…the IPC has exclusive jurisdiction to decide whether a record is in the custody or control of a university in the context of an access request…"
-
These summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book.
More information.
-
Aliens - Exclusion and expulsion - Power to detain and deport - Minister’s certificate - Review - Evidence
In 2002, Harkat was detained pursuant to a ministerial security certificate issued under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) as a person inadmissible to Canada on grounds ...
-
Contracts - Formation of contract - Signing - Electronic signature
The plaintiff expressed an interest in purchasing the defendant’s (vendor’s) condo. The parties agreed to carry on their discussions through e-mail. Following an exchange of e-mails, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant was contractually bound to ...
-
Barristers and Solicitors - Relationship with client - Confidential communications - General
The petitioner was a Receiver appointed in March 2009 by a California court over the assets of GJB Enterprises Inc. (a “Ponzi scheme”) and its principals, the Berkes (the GJB parties). The court ordered ...
-
Practice - Costs - Funding before judgment - When interim or advance costs available
The plaintiffs were “direct to home” satellite based subscription program providers. Rex and other defendants offered “grey market” services to Canadian residents to facilitate the unauthorized reception in Canada of the plaintiffs’ ...
This is a listing of a few upcoming events in Canada of interest to lawyers, law students, legal librarians, and others involved in the practice of law.
Clicking on any event in the list below will give you access to more information and to links allowing you to see the full entry and to add the event to your own calendar.
Click this link for a fuller version of the TalkLaw/ParLoi calendar of events and for instructions as to how to add events and calendars to your own calendar.
|
"Educating clients to appreciate the magnitude of what is being asked is not always an easy accomplishment."
Just ask the firm to give you the $1,600,000 up front. Even though most lawyers suffer from a pathological fear of mathematics, most can recognize a really really big number when it is next to a dollar sign.