The Right SaaS Partner Can Make All the Difference

As courts and justice agencies embark on their journey to the cloud, carefully considering the right software-as-a-service (SaaS) partner is paramount to success. To guide agencies through the process, we’ve rounded up the most impactful and telling questions to ask potential vendors. With their responses, agencies can weed out the noncontenders and find a SaaS partner who embraces innovation and prioritizes agency success.

Redundancy and Disaster Recovery

• What is the network availability?
• Are data centers compliant with Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) and other security requirements?

Consider 24/7 availability, at minimal or zero additional cost, for optimized uptime.

Scalability

• What additional pain points could be addressed by transitioning to a higher level of digital maturity?
• How are improvements prioritized?

Benefit from a tiered approach to SaaS services, so no matter your size, jurisdiction, or number of users, there is a solution built to your business needs. Also, prioritize evergreen models for automatic upgrades at no cost to you.

Five Benefits of Cloud-Based Court Technology

Explore five ways moving to the cloud is helping courts overcome key obstacles in their efforts to modernize.

Integration

• How are third-party integrations approached?
• What integrations are present today? What future integrations are anticipated?

Look for a SaaS solution that includes secure integrations with your agency’s other software applications, and compare how information is shared across departments, jurisdictions, and geography.

Security

• What measures and strategies are in place to safeguard cloud data security, privacy, and compliance?

Consider AWS GovCloud data centers that are built for governmental compliance – including CJIS, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), Security Operations Center (SOC), and Payment Card Industry (PCI) – to safeguard your information and protect against cyberthreats.

Data Migration

• How will data be migrated to the cloud? What costs are associated?
• What impacts will there be on staff or uptime?

Consider who cloud services are provisioned through and what that means for your data.

Support

• What types of support are offered and how often?
• How are issues or troubleshooting handled?
• What agency resources are needed to support a successful transition?

Clearly define shared support responsibilities with your partner, and look for capabilities like continuous monitoring to identify issues before they affect systems.

Public Sector Experience

• What is the public sector tenure in working with agencies like yours?
• What unique skill set or perspectives are brought to the table?

Consider the organization’s client base, years in the industry, and its mission for the public sector.

Financial Stability

• How are SaaS solutions financially supported?
• What are some recent investments made in R&D?

Understand the value in continued evolution of products and technology. As releases progress, expect rich features and functions paired with enhanced user experiences.

Carefully considering SaaS factors and selecting the right SaaS partner, courts and justice agencies can unlock the full potential of cloud technology. From enhanced security to scalability to reliability, the cloud is revolutionizing court systems, paving the way for operational efficiency and increased access to justice. By embracing SaaS solutions, courts and justice agencies can stay ahead in the digital age, creating a safer, more connected community.