HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - November 25, 2016
Published: Fri, 11/25/16
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We Hate to Rain on the Cloud Storage Parade for HOAs, But…
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In this week’s tip, we raise a warning of the risks of assuming cloud storage is the only type of storage you’ll ever need for association records. It may not offer the security you need for HOA records.
Whether you’re storing your documents in a cloud probably depends on how you’re managed.
“I think this is more a function of management companies,” says Michael Kim who, through his Chicago law firm, Michael C. Kim & Associates, represents about 500 associations. “We represent professionally managed associations, and how documents are stored depends on how the management company decides to handle its document storage.
“Many times the association or board members themselves will have varying degrees or exposure to, or comfort with, technology,” adds Kim. “And if the board uses a management company, how they’re storing documents depends on how comfortable the management company is. My guess is it’s not universal by any means.”
Whether you’re contemplating storing records in the cloud or your manager is doing it, the first advice our experts have is to consider cloud storage good resource but not an infallible one.
“Cloud storage is becoming more and more reliable, but at the same time it’s still susceptible to hacking, and that leads to the possibility that some hacker may succeed in deleting your documents,” says Nathaniel Abbate Jr., a partner at Makower Abbate & Associates PLLC in Farmington Hills, Mich., who represents associations. “While we’re always told that nothing is permanently deleted and that there are ways of retrieving deleted documents as long as the hardware is relatively intact, the need to take extraordinary recovery measures can cost time and money.”
Don’t get Abbate wrong. He’s not knocking cloud storage. “That’s not to suggest that cloud storage isn't enough or that associations shouldn’t shred documents they’ve saved to the cloud,” he notes. “But there obviously are some things that should never be shredded.”
Even if you believe cloud storage is secure, you need to behave as though it’s not. Kim and Abbate say there are some types of documents they think it’s risky to destroy your hard copy of even if you’ve got a copy in the cloud. Find out two biggies in our new article: http://www.hoaleader.com/members/2465.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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We Hate to Rain on the Cloud Storage Parade for HOAs, But…
In this week's tip, we raise a warning of the risks of assuming cloud storage is the only type of storage you'll ever need for association records. It may not offer the security you need for HOA records. Whether you're storing your documents in a cloud probably depends on how you're managed.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/We-Hate-Rain-on-Cloud-Storage-Parade-for-HOAs-But.cfm
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Cloud Storage and HOAs: 2 Types of Documents You Shouldn't Destroy
Lots of organizations are touting cloud storage. But can HOAs store all their documents in the cloud? Are there any documents you need to keep in hard copy? Here our experts caution against assuming cloud storage is all you'll need in the future.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/Cloud-Storage-HOAs-2-Types-Documents-You-Shouldnt-Destroy.cfm
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New Fair Housing Rules are Clear as Mud
In this week's tip, we update you on new fair housing rules related to quid pro quo behaviors and hostile environments in housing that have taken effect. Let's start by saying these new rules are a bit of a mystery even to those knowledgeable about fair housing laws.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/public/New-Fair-Housing-Rules-are-Clear-as-Mud.cfm
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Easier Enforcement of Your HOA's Rules: Steps to Create Enforceable Rules, Effective Fines, and a Fair Violation Process
Enforcing rules doesn't have to be a pitched, tense, and unpleasant battle between your homeowner association board and your homeowners. With some smart planning, you can make enforcing your HOA's rules fairer, quicker, easier, and less stressful. Watch this in-depth webinar led by two community association experts: a lawyer with more than a decade of hands-on experience in advising associations on how to create and enforce rules, along with a veteran association manager with insights on the day-to-day operations of rules enforcement. You'll get practical ideas, systems, and processes you and your condo or HOA board can begin to take advantage of the minute the webinar ends. Watch online instantly upon ordering.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/products/enforceable-hoa-rules-b.cfm
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How the New Fair Housing Rules Affect Your HOA
New fair housing rules related to quid pro quo behaviors and hostile environments in housing have taken effect. Here two of our legal experts explain what this means for your day-to-day operations.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.hoaleader.com/members/How-New-Fair-Housing-Rules-Affect-Your-HOA.cfm
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