Epiq has long been known as an e-discovery powerhouse, but with the explosion of data types and sources comes the need to control that data across the enterprise. As a result, Epiq has in recent years built out its information governance (IG) practice, with a recent update today coming in the form of expanded Office 365 managed services and integration.

The new Office 365 advisory and managed services offering will focus on supporting data migrations as well as maximizing the benefits of Office 365's Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS) Suite, according to Epiq vice president of global professional services Thomas Bonk. The primary goal is to facilitate data compliance, particularly around the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other data privacy laws and processes, including data subject access requests.

This service comes as Epiq deepens its integration with Microsoft tools. Many of the company's tech services, including eGovern (file analysis and data classification), eNotify (legal hold notification) and its recent Microsoft Teams Compliance Connector (making Microsoft Teams e-discovery compliant), are fully integrated with Microsoft platforms. The company also participates on the Microsoft Security and Compliance Partner Advisory Council, which advises on Microsoft 365 product development.

Roger Pilc, president and general manager of global legal solutions at Epiq, noted these tight integrations are key to the company's strategy, especially as clients are increasingly focused on protecting PII, PHI and other types of sensitive content in the face of heightening regulations and increasingly complex technology.

"With the changes in privacy regulations, increased liability concerns regarding data, sheer amount of data managed, and accelerating movement of that data to cloud solutions like Office 365, information governance has taken on an even greater importance to all organizations in managing their risk and streamlining their operations," he told Legaltech News.

Helping lead this new offering are three information governance and compliance consultants recently hired at Epiq: Heidi Maher, Elizabeth Fogerty and Dominic Johnstone. Notably, two of these three are internationally based, with Fogerty working out of Hong Kong and Johnstone working out of Europe.

A number of e-discovery companies have invested in information governance solutions in recent months, particularly with the introduction of the GDPR and CCPA. There has also been a spate of related information governance, privacy and security hiring and M&A activity at e-discovery companies.

Where Epiq is hoping to set itself apart from the pack is through the scale of its offerings across the EDRM, as well as that tight Microsoft integration. As explained by Stratford Dick, Epiq senior vice president of product management, "Our e-discovery clients recognize the link between good information governance practices that are performed proactively and the mitigation of their financial risk when they are faced with the reactive challenges of litigation and investigation matters."