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Why law firms should run their servers on Hyper-V
When one server holds every matter file, one failure stops the whole firm
Matter files must be there when the lawyer needs them, and they must be recoverable. Hyper-V gives a firm a safer way to run its file and document servers.
Ask Tony for a free 30-minute insurer readiness review.
What you can count on
- Under 2 hrsto restore a failed server from local backups
- RAID 10for virtual machine storage, standard in our builds
- 24/7a person answers (604) 813-7881
What is Hyper-V, and why does it matter to a law firm?
Hyper-V is Microsoft’s virtualization technology, built into Windows Server. It lets one physical server run one or more virtual machines, each behaving like its own server and stored as files that can be backed up, checkpointed and moved. Firms depend on file access, matter systems and billing software. Running those on one physical host ties all matter data to a single machine.
One physical host, or Hyper-V
One physical host, no Hyper-V
- File access, matter systems and billing share one operating system.
- The server is tied to that specific hardware.
- A failed host means rebuilding the operating system and software on new hardware.
- No checkpoints, so upgrades are harder to test and to undo.
- Backing up the whole machine is harder, and restores are slower.
- Older operating systems stay stuck on older hardware.
Hyper-V
- Each role can run in its own virtual machine, such as file access and the matter system.
- A virtual machine can be backed up as a whole and restored elsewhere.
- A short lived checkpoint can be taken just before an upgrade, as a quick way back alongside a tested backup.
- Roles can be kept apart, so each system reaches only what it needs.
- Upgrades and moves can be planned and smoother.
- An older system can keep running on new hardware while you plan its replacement.
The day a single host fails
File access and matter systems stop together, and recovery usually means rebuilding on new hardware while lawyers wait for their files. With Hyper-V, the virtual server is restored from backup onto other hardware instead.
Protecting matter data
Separate virtual machines help keep roles apart, and each virtual machine can be backed up as a whole. Data loss prevention (DLP) tools and access controls still apply on top. Hyper-V isn’t a DLP tool. Check your professional and privacy obligations, and note that this page is IT guidance, not legal advice.
What Hyper-V doesn’t do
Hyper-V doesn’t remove every risk, and we don’t promise zero downtime. The host is still hardware, and a host that fails still needs repair or a restore onto other hardware. A checkpoint is a short lived way back, not a backup, and it’s not used to restore a domain controller or to undo days of new database entries. You still need tested backups, kept offsite.
How we lay out the servers
RAID 10 for virtual machine storage is standard in our builds, set up with standard ITIL change and configuration practice. A typical build has at least 2 virtual servers. One handles identity, which means who is allowed to sign in (the domain controller). The other is a dedicated app server that runs your software. We never run applications on the domain controller. One domain controller is our usual setup for businesses that can handle a few hours of downtime, backed by tested restores. If you can’t afford any downtime, we offer a second one. Your call. We explain the trade-off up front so you can choose with your eyes open.
Windows Server licensing is part of the plan. We license Windows Server Standard or Datacenter edition to cover the virtual servers. People and devices that connect to the servers also need Windows Server access licenses (CALs), which are separate from the server license, and remote desktop sessions need their own RDS CALs. We confirm exactly what you need for your setup.
Check with your software vendors first
Ask your document, matter and billing software vendors whether they support running on a virtual machine, and what they require. We coordinate with your software vendors before anything changes, take and test a backup first, and plan the work around your business hours. Benson Hunt is independent IT support, not the software vendor. Read why every business should run on Hyper-V.
Why it matters, in plain words
The tech behind this page, and why it’s there. See all the plain guides.
RAID 10
Why two healthy drives still aren’t a backup
RAID 10 keeps the server running when a drive dies. It also copies a mistake or ransomware to every drive instantly.
Immutable backups
Why ransomware goes after the firm’s backups first
Without backups, the firm has to pay or rebuild. Our copies are locked for 30 days, and no one, not even us, can delete them early.
Multi-factor sign in
Why a stolen password shouldn’t open a lawyer’s inbox
Passwords leak. A second check on a phone or a security key stops most stolen passwords from working.
Hyper-V questions we hear
Is a checkpoint the same as a backup?
No. A checkpoint is a short lived restore point on the same host, taken just before a change and removed once the change is confirmed. Microsoft advises against using checkpoints as a permanent recovery solution. You still need separate backups kept offsite, with test restores.
Does Hyper-V replace DLP?
No. DLP and access controls protect against data leaving or being reached by the wrong people. Hyper-V helps with recovery, safe upgrades and keeping roles apart.
Can our existing server be moved to Hyper-V?
Often it can, either by converting the existing server or by building a new virtual machine and moving the software across. We review your server, take a tested backup first and plan the work around your business hours. Ask us about yours.