When considering hosting payroll and HR systems in the cloud, risks around continuity of service, reliance on the hosting partner, disaster recovery and system restoration must be evaluated. Extensive research is needed to find the cloud hosting provider best suited to minimizing risks while meeting the needs of the sector. FE Sussex consulted with others in the FE and HE sector already using cloud hosting. An extensive training program was developed to ensure the 7,000 self-service users understand the new system's benefits, demands and operation, which is critical to its success. The new cloud system will provide an easy to use, paperless solution for managing HR and payroll while also easing the workload of HR staff and speeding up processes.

1. FE Sussex / SiSSC
When considering hosting payroll and HR in the cloud there are number of risks
that have to be taken into account. Continuity of service, reliance on the hosting
partner, disaster recovery and systems restoration all have to be considered.
Extensive research into the cloud hosting provider which best suits the FE sector in
terms of risk minimalisation and provision of service level requirements is essential.
On behalf of SISSC, FE Sussex (managing the project) consulted with others in the FE
and HE sector who had already migrated to cloud hosted solutions.
Central to the success of the new system is staff’s awareness and the understanding
of its benefits, demands and operation. To assist this, an extensive training
programme has been devised which will ensure up to 7,000 self-service users know
what is expected of them.
The benefits of this project are both short and long term. The new system will ensure
and easy to use paperless solution to the management of HR and payroll. The
inclusion of an e-recruiter module will mean that even before potential staff apply
for a role in a SISSC College they are already benefiting from the cloud solution.
Similarly, HR staff will find their workload eased alongside a speeding up of
processes.