This page lists recommendations for agencies that wish to use a hosted Windows solution with HawkSoft. These agencies, including those who wish to continue using a hosted Windows solution for HawkSoft after our contracts with HawkSoft Online hosting partners have ended, can establish their own direct relationship with a Managed Service Provider or IT Provider. This page includes hosting provider recommendations, as well as options for running HawkSoft 6 on Mac computers.

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Hosting partner recommendations

The following organizations are Managed Service Providers or IT Providers that offer hosting services. These recommendations are based on proposals provided to HawkSoft in Summer 2023 from companies that provide hosted Windows services. Agencies may also feel free to work with any other provider that meet their hosting needs.

 

Recommended Companies

These three companies stood out among the received proposals, based on the quality of the proposal and answers to questions asked, the company's experience with offering Windows hosting to independent insurance agencies, and reference interviews conducted by HawkSoft with existing Windows hosting customers at each company. Each of these companies operate nationally.

 

Additional Options

In addition to the recommended companies above, HawkSoft would like to acknowledge that the following companies also offer Windows Hosting services.

 

 

 

Solutions for running HawkSoft 6 on Mac computers

HawkSoft 6 eliminates the need for the remotely hosted environment that made it possible to access previous versions of HawkSoft via Mac computers. Subsequently, Mac users will now be responsible for setting up and supporting their own Windows environment where HawkSoft 6 can be accessed via Mac. Below are some possible setup options for running Windows on Mac computers. Please bear in mind that HawkSoft will provide support only for the HawkSoft system, not the configuration or maintenance of the Windows environment, on Mac computers.

Option 1: Parallels Desktop for Mac

You can run Windows on your Mac using technology called virtualization, offered through a Mac app called Parallels Desktop for Mac. This is fundamentally different technology from the Parallels RAS technology used today for HawkSoft Online. With HawkSoft Online, Parallels RAS technology streams not just the HawkSoft program, but the entire Windows operating system over the internet from a remote online hosting partner to your workstation or device.

With Parallels Desktop for Mac, however, the virtual machine is running on your own device right inside your MacOS interface, rather than remotely. This offers a far more seamless and stable environment, with no potential lag or connectivity issues—similar to watching a movie on your DVD player rather than streaming it over the internet and potentially experiencing buffering issues.

For this approach the agency will need a license to Parallels Desktop for Mac (any edition) and a license to a supported Windows operating system (Windows 11 recommended).

 

Option 2: Windows 365 Business Cloud PC

Windows 365 Business Cloud PC plans provide cloud PC capabilities that allow users to access a virtual Windows PC from any Mac, iOS, Android, or Windows device. To access the Windows 365 cloud PC, Mac users have two options: download and use the Microsoft Remote Desktop app from the Mac App Store, or access the cloud PC through an internet browser by visiting windows365.microsoft.com. 

HawkSoft has performed limited testing on this method, and while HawkSoft 6 performed as expected in the Windows 365 cloud PC environment, this option may not work for every agency or workstation setup. 

 

Option 3: Dual Boot via Boot Camp (dependent on hardware)

This is a Boot Camp feature available on legacy Mac computers with Intel processors. Depending on your Mac’s hardware, those with Intel processors may be able to use dual-boot technology to run Windows. Apple has not made this capability possible on modern Mac computers that use ARM Processors (Apple Silicon).

 

Option 4: Remote hosting with a service provider

Agencies may work directly with a Managed Service Provider or IT Provider that offers hosting services. This allows Mac users to run HawkSoft 6 from a hosted Windows virtual machine via Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or similar technology. HawkSoft has vetted a number of providers based on the quality of their proposals, ability to answer questions, experience offering hosting support to independent agencies, and reference interviews with existing customers. A list of recommended partners can be found above on this page. Agencies may also feel free to work with any other provider that meet their hosting needs.