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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Cloud-based Recruitment: the Future or a Cybercriminal's Playground?

When it comes to storing information and applications, it seems that there is only one way forward: the cloud.

Many traditional aspects of an office job, like editing documents or working collectively on projects, have already been moved to cloud environments, which are preferred for the flexibility and convenience they offer. The recruitment world could be no exception, as cloud-based recruitment is gaining followers by the day. Cloud-based software can help streamline the recruitment process and offers many advantages – but there are also some points that recruiters need to be cautious about.

Streamlining the Process

Recruiting online certainly seems to be the current trend in the industry. According to a recent survey, 47.3% of HR professionals have stated that online recruitment has helped them land candidates faster, while 22.5% responded that it varies across different job posts and only about 8% said that they were unsure. Using cloud-based solutions allows recruiters to work from anywhere and at any time and thus liaise better with candidates from across the world. It also simplifies the process by allowing recruitment agencies and professionals to keep all documents and files in one place and have uninterrupted access even off-premises. This also means that when teams work on a project they are able to cooperate better on a shared platform, instead of falling back into the familiar pattern of annoying emails with countless attachments. Cloud-based recruitment means that updated files are instantly shared across a team.

Source: Pexels

Keeping the Risks in Mind

Naturally, this internet-based approach comes with all advantages but also the disadvantages that are inherent in the Web. For example, it means that recruiters will need an internet connection to work – but it sounds like a small price to pay to get rid of all the problems of using hardware and physical solutions. As with all web-based software, cloud-based applications will need protection against cybersecurity threats. Yet that might not be as complicated as it sounds, as sometimes simple solutions might work wonders: recently the FBI advised users to simply reset their routers in order to avoid infection by a malicious malware that is known as VPN Filter. Similarly, simple cybersecurity solutions such as a web application firewall can protect both cloud and on-premises applications from attackers that aim at stealing sensitive data. This is particularly useful considering all the sensitive candidate data that recruiters need to store on the cloud.

Source: Pexels

Advantages Found in Unlikely Places

Ensuring integration of cloud solutions across your agency might also be a point of friction at first, as not all recruiters are up to speed with newer technologies. Proper training could play a crucial role in countering this problem. Advantages might also come from unlikely places: it is estimated that by 2020 60% to 70% of all tech and services will be based on the cloud, while 64% of companies report that cloud-based solutions help them cut back on their energy needs and waste output. This not only means that your agency can become more eco-friendly – something revered when it comes to building a better brand reputation – but also enjoy lower costs and faster adoption of tech that will become essential across industries in the near future.

Working on the cloud means that recruitment professionals have the tools to do a better job at recruiting – and this translates into keeping clients happier and retaining the best talent possible.