We currently live in unusual times, so unusual that it feels like we are living in a big dream. In recent weeks, the nation has had to adjust to new norms, including “social distancing,” a term most of us hadn’t even heard of before all this started. Companies have adapted to 100% remote work. Some Americans are even living under “stay at home” orders, depending on which state they reside in. All of this has been a major adjustment for the nation, and we will continue to live under these circumstances for at least the next month as nationwide social distancing guidelines have been extended for an additional 30 days.
Although we live in unknown circumstances, one element remains constant: there is still work to be done. Staffing companies have candidates to place, payroll to process, and new business to win. Given that we live in these unpredictable times, can you continue with your normal activities with the necessary safety precautions? Are you able to run your business remotely without missing a beat? It’s times like these, when a cloud-based staffing software solution is valued more than ever. If you haven’t already moved to a cloud-based solution, here are the benefits, and not just in times of crisis.
Ability to work anywhere and increased productivity
The biggest advantage of a cloud-based staffing software solution is the ability to work anywhere. You can access all your leads, clients, contacts, and work orders no matter where you are. Mobility is the future of recruiting – you need to be able to work anywhere, especially when you’re visiting clients. Instead of having to go back to the office to enter notes or perhaps add a new work order, you can do it while you’re on your way to your next client. This increases your productivity and your ability to fill jobs faster, ultimately giving you an edge over the competition.
Not to mention, he also has the ability to work at home, especially in the conditions we currently live in. Working remotely is simply the safest option, whether your state has implemented “Stay at Home Orders” or not. The federal government recommends keeping gatherings to 10 people or less. A cloud-based software gives you this ability to work at home.
Note that some may argue that you can still access your data remotely with your own server; however, you must ensure that your designated IT representative has set up a secure way to establish a connection, such as a VPN.
Security
The security of your data is enhanced through a cloud solution. You may think your server is secure, but you’ll be surprised to hear how secure data in the cloud really is, given the right investments. What is important to note is that not all staffing software providers invest in the same amount of security.
One of the biggest security advantages of the cloud is that multiple security networks are in place to ensure that data is never compromised or lost. Cloud data is stored in facilities called “Data Centers”. Each data center is ranked by tier ratings. A Tier 3 and Tier 4 data center offers the highest security with an uptime of approximately 99.982% and 99.995%, respectively. What is uptime? It is the amount of time that a server stays up and running without power or other problems.
Data in the cloud must also be stored in multiple data centers, so in the unlikely event that “the cloud goes down” in one data center, your data will still be backed up and secure in another. Please note that it is important to ask software providers if your data will be stored in multiple data centers. To give you an idea of what a secure data center looks like, when you walk in, you’ll see plenty of backup power sources, fingerprint access between rooms, locked cages, 24-hour monitoring, and armed guards. Only a few key IT people at the software company would have access to the physical data.
In addition to the data center, backups run daily. Incremental backups are performed throughout the day, and a full backup is performed at the end of each day. Updates are also done without derailing operations like a server update might. Everyone can continue with their daily tasks without breaks or delays in work.
Finally, data centers offer multiple layers of firewall protection should one or more be breached. Various antivirus and antimalware software are used to protect your data. This is important because one software can find something and start running updates, but miss another threat that different software will catch. With layered security, an intruder would need to go through multiple layers before accessing your data.
Eliminate the hassle and expense of having your own server
Hosting your own server takes up a lot of physical space and also requires valuable maintenance time that you could be using to focus on your core business. Not to mention, the expenses associated with a server. You’re probably paying for rental costs, electricity bills, and on-site technicians to monitor, support, and update the server. It was also necessary to make a large investment to buy the server, which is a difficult piece of equipment to resell. Also, think about the shelf life. How often does it have to be replaced?
Moving to a cloud solution eliminates the hassle, space, and expense of managing your own data. What may surprise you is that it is actually more profitable to move to a cloud staffing software. You can expect to pay a monthly subscription to your software provider to secure and maintain your data at a much lower cost. You will only pay for the amount of storage space you spent.
Thinking of making the change?
The idea of implementing completely new software and way of operating can sound scary, especially in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is it really a good time to think about making the switch? You may feel that you need to focus all your efforts on forming a new trading strategy in order to emerge victorious after all this. But have you considered a cloud-based solution as part of that strategy?