How is HawkSoft 6 different from current local and online installations?
What is a local installation?
This deployment method installs HawkSoft CMS on a local server or network located in, owned, and operated by your agency. Data is stored and delivered from your local server to your office staff who use HawkSoft CMS. You access HawkSoft directly from your workstation desktop.
How is HawkSoft 6 different from a local installation?
Data in the cloud
Your agency’s data will be hosted by HawkSoft in our cloud with a targeted 99.5% uptime, eliminating the cost and effort of storing and securing it on your own server and network.
Enhanced data security & multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Your data will be stored securely on Microsoft Azure using industry best practices and redundant storage, rather than your agency being responsible for data security. MFA provides an extra level of security for your data.
Accessible anywhere
You can access the full HawkSoft program from any Windows-powered desktop or laptop with an internet connection, whether inside or outside your office. You will not need to use RDP or VPN to connect to HawkSoft on your workstation.
Automatic backups & maintenance of HawkSoft data
Backups of your HawkSoft data will be done for you in the cloud, and other manual activities like search index maintenance and backup retention will no longer be necessary.
Automatic version updates
No need to manually update HawkSoft every time there’s a new version. You will receive new features, capabilities, and security patches automatically.
Unlimited online file storage
Store and organize all your agency’s documents, attachments, and files with no storage cap. Save drive space on your local PC while also ensuring your files are securely stored for safe-keeping in the cloud.
What features are new or different in HawkSoft 6?
Because HawkSoft had to be entirely rebuilt as a cloud platform, we made some updates and enhancements to features at the same time. HawkSoft 6 offers many features that are new, enhanced, or reimagined compared to past versions of HawkSoft. See details on HawkSoft 6 features here.
Will pricing for HawkSoft 6 be different than my pricing on the local installation?
For agencies on a local server, there will be a $39 per user per month increase when they move to HawkSoft 6. This increase covers the costs for cloud architecture, security, automatic backups, updates, and enhancements as listed above.
Will I be able to remain on a local installation after HawkSoft 6 is released?
Yes, agencies using a local server are not required to migrate to HawkSoft 6. However, HawkSoft plans to eventually announce an end-of-support date for local server installations.
HawkSoft will continue to support local server installations at least through the end of 2024. We aim to provide 6 months of notice before the end-of-support date so that agencies can plan accordingly. Agencies may continue using their local installation even after the end-of-support date, but the system will not receive further support, updates, or security patches.
Please keep in mind that that all new and future major features (e.g. Automated Tasks, Automated Communications, Quick Reports, new Accounting and Commissions workflows, browser-accessible features, etc.) will be released only on the new HawkSoft 6 cloud platform. This platform is the future of HawkSoft and will be our focus going forward.
More local installation FAQs
What is HawkSoft Online (formerly HawkSoft Anywhere)?
This deployment method installs HawkSoft CMS on a Windows-based desktop hosted online by a third-party online hosting partner. Your agency accesses HawkSoft through a Remote Application Server (RAS) technology called Parallels RAS. HawkSoft is not installed directly on your agency’s workstations. Instead, your staff logs into HawkSoft and your Windows-based desktop through the Parallels RAS technology.
How is HawkSoft 6 different from HawkSoft Online?
No need for Parallels RAS
Rather than using Parallels RAS to access HawkSoft on a hosted Windows-based desktop, HawkSoft will be installed directly on your desktop or laptop workstation.
No third-party online hosting partner
Your data will be hosted directly on HawkSoft Cloud instead of any of our current third-party online hosting partners. Our cloud will be powered by Microsoft Azure. HawkSoft will have direct control over your agency’s cloud environment, giving us the ability to respond quickly when issues arise.
Faster and more reliable connectivity
The bandwidth (internet speed) requirements for HawkSoft 6 will be significantly lower than those of HawkSoft Online today. This means less latency, no more episodes of mouse lag, and overall better experience. With redundant storage that targets 99.5% uptime, we expect fewer outages too!
Scalability for large amounts of data
Client data will be provided on-demand in HawkSoft 6, significantly increasing ease of use for large agencies with thousands of client files. Data-heavy activities like running reports will be 10–50 times faster for large agencies! (Yes, we’ve tested this.) A scalable infrastructure also allows HawkSoft to increase system capacity as needed to ensure your performance times don’t suffer as your client files grow.
Unlimited online file storage
Store and organize all your agency’s documents, attachments, and files with no storage cap. Save drive space on your local PC while also ensuring your files are securely stored for safe-keeping in the cloud.
What features are new or different in HawkSoft 6?
Because HawkSoft had to be entirely rebuilt as a cloud platform, we made some updates and enhancements to features at the same time. HawkSoft 6 offers many features that are new, enhanced, or reimagined compared to past versions of HawkSoft. See details on HawkSoft 6 features here.
Will pricing for HawkSoft 6 be different than my pricing on HawkSoft Online?
Agencies on HawkSoft Online will not see a price increase when they move to HawkSoft 6. Furthermore, agencies will no longer need to pay for additional licenses for Microsoft products specifically for the HawkSoft Online hosted environment, like they did in the past.
Will I be able to remain on HawkSoft Online after HawkSoft 6 is released?
No, all agencies on HawkSoft Online will be moved to our new HawkSoft 6 cloud platform. Our term-based contracts with online hosting partners that support HawkSoft Online through the Parallels software (which will no longer be needed for HawkSoft 6) will be expiring throughout 2024.
Most agencies that use HawkSoft Online today do so because it offers access to their HawkSoft data from any device. As HawkSoft 6 provides this benefit with superior cloud performance and many feature enhancements, we expect there will be very few reasons that a HawkSoft Online agency will want to remain on our legacy platform instead of moving to our HawkSoft 6 cloud platform. If your agency does not wish to move to HawkSoft 6 and chooses to remain on our legacy platform, please contact us to explore your options. If your agency runs HawkSoft Online on Apple/Mac computers, please read this page for options to run HawkSoft 6 on Mac.