Solutions for running HawkSoft 6 on a Mac Computer

• Option 1: Access HawkSoft via web browser

  • HawkSoft Browser App

  • HawkSoft Agent Portal

• Option 2: Parallels Desktop for Mac

• Option 3: Windows 365 Business Cloud PC

• Option 4: Dual Boot via Boot Camp (dependent on hardware)

• Option 5: Remote hosting with a service provider

You can access HawkSoft 6 on any device with an internet browser (Mac, PC, and mobile devices) using the HawkSoft Browser App and HawkSoft Agent Portal.

While these options do not enable you to have access to the full HawkSoft desktop platform and its features, many features via the HawkSoft Browser App and HawkSoft Agent Portal include browser-accessible elements (see details here), and more features will continue to be made accessible via browser in the future. To learn more about the features available for HawkSoft Browser App and HawkSoft Agent Portal, see HawkSoft Feature Availability.

HawkSoft Browser App

HawkSoft Browser App enables you to access some HawkSoft features from your device's web browser while on the go.

From HawkSoft Browser App you can view and interact with a summary of your assigned Tasks, agency announcements, and news in the HawkSoft Corner on the HawkSoft Browser App Start page exactly as you can in the desktop application. You can view client and policy information in a view that looks like HawkSoft Desktop. Depending on your user permissions, the HawkSoft Browser App also enables users to access and perform administrative and reporting tasks.

It's important to note that the HawkSoft Browser App does not include editing of client or policy information. However, clients and policies can be viewed, and logs, tasks, and attachments can be created.

HawkSoft Agent Portal

HawkSoft Agent Portal is optimized for mobile devices and enables you to quickly and securely access client and policy information stored in HawkSoft from your device's web browser while on the go.

From HawkSoft Agent Portal, you can access and view client and policy information, as well as add log notes and attach files directly to clients, enabling you to easily set reminders or add home photos and other notes from out in the field.

It's important to note that the client and policy information in Agent Portal is read-only. Client and policy information can be viewed in Agent Portal, but can be changed only in HawkSoft Desktop.

The only new data that can be added using Agent Portal are log notes and attachments.

To learn more about how to access the HawkSoft Browser App and HawkSoft Agent Portal, see Logging In and Out of HawkSoft.

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 from the technology used for previous versions of HawkSoft Online. With HawkSoft Online, Parallels RAS technology streamed 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 the virtual machine is running on your own device right inside your MacOS interface, rather than remotely. This offers a 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).

See what HawkSoft looks like on a Mac with Parallels Desktop!

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

• 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.

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).

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.

As of 2023, 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.

The following list includes recommended partners, who operate nationally. Click on a company to visit their website and learn more:

Alternatively, your agency can work with any other provider that meets your hosting needs.

• Agency Technologies, Inc. (based in Ohio)

• mPowered IT (based in Georgia)

• Mythos Technology (based in California)

Additional Options

In addition to the recommended companies above, the following companies also offer Windows Hosting services. Click on a company below to visit their website and learn more:

• The Brookfield Group

• LockedHeart Technologies

• MyArchway