--- title: Don’t be spooked about cloud based technology for payroll systems description: Cloud-based payroll and HR systems are actually MORE safe and secure than traditional payroll management methods - here's why! image: https://blog.stargarden.com/hubfs/lightening-520160_1280.jpg --- [![StarGarden](https://blog.stargarden.com/hs-fs/hub/425286/file-1451547908.png)](https://www.stargarden.com) - [StarGarden](http://www.stargarden.com) - [Contact](https://stargarden.com/Contact) - Products - [HCM](https://stargarden.com/StarGarden-50) - [Essential HR](https://stargarden.com/Essential-HR) - [Benefits Management](https://stargarden.com/benefits-management) - [Organization Management](https://stargarden.com/organization-management) - [Employee Demographics](https://stargarden.com/employee-demographics) - [Balances & Accruals](https://stargarden.com/balance-accruals) - [Compensation](https://stargarden.com/compensation) - [Extended HR](https://stargarden.com/StarGarden-HCM/Extended-HR) - [Recruitment and Applicant Tracking](https://stargarden.com/recruitment-and-applicant-tracking) - [Employment Equity](https://stargarden.com/employment-equity) - [Labor Relations](https://stargarden.com/labor-relations) - [Health & Safety](https://stargarden.com/health-and-safety) - [Performance Management](https://stargarden.com/performance-management) - [Training and Development](https://stargarden.com/training-and-development) - [Payroll](https://stargarden.com/Payroll-Processing) - [Work Plans and Scheduling](https://stargarden.com/Work-Plans-and-Scheduling) - [Time and Attendance](https://stargarden.com/Time-and-Attendance) - [Payroll Processing](https://stargarden.com/Payroll-Processing) - [Reporting](https://stargarden.com/reporting-module) - [Foundation](https://stargarden.com/foundation) - [Workflow](https://stargarden.com/Workflow) - [Authority Manager](https://stargarden.com/Workflow/Authority-Manager) - [Provisioning](https://stargarden.com/network-administration-and-provisioning) - [Process Manager](https://stargarden.com/enterprise-business-process-management-solutions) - [Federation Server](https://stargarden.com/decentralized-authority-management) - Brochures - Product Brochures - [Overview](https://stargarden.com/overview-hcm) - [Human Capital Management](https://stargarden.com/hcm-management) - Case Studies - [Amalgamating Local Governments](https://stargarden.com/merging-local-governments-human-resource-software) - [Haldimand County](https://stargarden.com/hr-software-for-managing-unionized-workforce) - [Large Organization with Complicated Pay and Benefit Rules](https://stargarden.com/upgrade-or-customize-your-hr-system) - [Manufacturer - Growth through Merger](https://stargarden.com/streamlining-hr-and-payroll-processes-after-an-acquisition) - [Prince William County](https://stargarden.com/employee-self-service-helps-streamline-hr-to-be-more-strategic) - [St. John's](https://stargarden.com/hr-and-payroll-challenges-of-a-growing-city) - [The Case for Integration](https://stargarden.com/an-integrated-hr-solution-to-optimize-workforce) - Customers - [Government](https://learn.stargarden.com/government-solutions-whitepaper-download-0) - [Education](https://learn.stargarden.com/education-solutions-whitepaper-download) - [Health](https://learn.stargarden.com/healthcare-solutions-whitepaper-download) - [Unionized Industry](https://learn.stargarden.com/unionized-labor-solutions-whitepaper-download) - [Cross Border](https://learn.stargarden.com/cross-border-whitepaper-download) # Don’t be spooked about cloud based technology for payroll systems [Marnie Larson](https://blog.stargarden.com/author/marnie-larson) April 22, 2015 at 8:20 AM 2014 seemed like the year of the cyber-attack. Every news outlet swirled with constant whirlwind stories about hacked data systems and large-scale security breaches of retail stores, financial institutions, and credit card operators. Despite the media storm, however, cloud based technology is actually more secure than ever before. ![lightening-520160_1280](https://blog.stargarden.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lightening-520160_1280.jpg?width=405&name=lightening-520160_1280.jpg) Many small- to medium-sized businesses have resisted making the switch to cloud-based payroll and HR systems because of security concerns, even if they understand the many benefits of an online, integrated scheduling and payroll management HR system. A company’s payroll data necessarily includes the most sensitive information about its employees -- social security numbers, addresses, salaries and banking information— which is obviously extremely valuable to hackers. That data can then be mined to steal directly from the employees or to appropriate their identities for all manner of nefarious purposes! Fortunately, cloud security has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, and there are many additional security measures businesses can take to better protect this confidential data. # Cloud-based payroll systems can be more secure than traditional systems  Cloud HR systems and payroll software vendors are experienced professionals in online safety, data backup, and security. Because of this, your payroll data is backed up in a number of secure ways – unlike, for example, if all that information is kept in one computer or filing cabinet at your main office.   - **Destruction:** If you’re storing data in one central location, without backup, what happens if your computer is corrupted or crashes – or if there is some kind of harm to the physical records? This data can be inconvenient or impossible to replace, and the delay can expose you to a great deal of liability. - **Theft:** Further, a business owner is responsible for keeping social security numbers, tax forms and other sensitive information safe. If your business is running payroll through one computer or local network that is infiltrated, or if you are the victim of internal theft, you will be responsible for these losses. - **Mistake:** Traditional payroll – whether handwritten from a ledger or done by a payroll manager using an in-office software program – has a significant human component, exposing a significant and ongoing risk of mistakes being made. Payroll mistakes can cost your company substantially through fines, loss of employee confidence, and potential legal liability.   StarGarden’s professional support team will ensure that your payroll data is safe, secure, accurate, and up-to-date on every applicable rule and regulation. Professional, cloud-based management of your payroll operations is a more reliable way to ensure your data is safe, compliant, accurate, and protected than traditional methods – for a fraction of the cost. ## **Cloud-based vendors take extra precautions to protect against security breaches** There are standard security precautions that online payroll vendors take to ensure your data is secure from unauthorized access.[\[1\]](https://blog.stargarden.com/dont-be-spooked-about-cloud-based-technology-for-payroll-systems#_ftn1) These include: - Regular internal security audits to ensure security protocols are up to par; - Security scans that constantly run on the software provider's servers; - Staff dedicated to continually implementing software updates if scans uncover any weaknesses;  - 24/7 on-site security at the server location to keep client data safe; and - Encryption of sensitive information through 128 or 256 bit SSL (“secure sockets layer”), the highest standard technology to establish encrypted links between a server and a Web browser.   StarGarden is dedicated to the security of your payroll data and implements the latest technology to ensure that your information remains secure. [Contact us](https://learn.stargarden.com/contact) to learn more about how our integrated StarGarden payroll software can help your business, or click the image below to download our FREE eBook and see how we help a wide variety of specialized industries with diverse payroll and HR system needs.[![Click here to get our free eBook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/425286/5c1a4703-6aa8-4ef2-b924-2e2ec2539b2f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/425286/5c1a4703-6aa8-4ef2-b924-2e2ec2539b2f) \[1\] Research provided by payroll software [reviewer](http://www.softwareadvice.com/hr/payroll-software-comparison/) Software Advice: http://www.softwareadvice.com/hr/industryview/cloud-payroll-report-2015/  [Payroll](https://blog.stargarden.com/topic/payroll) ## Related Posts ### [December 12, 2022 at 8:34 AM Help! My Employees Are Arguing About Holiday Time Off](https://blog.stargarden.com/help-my-employees-are-arguing-about-holiday-time-off) ### [January 29, 2019 at 6:00 AM Benefits of Integrated Payroll & HR for Municipal Governments](https://blog.stargarden.com/benefits-of-integrated-hr-payroll-systems-for-municipal-governments) ### [May 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM The Real Cost of Payroll Errors (It's Not What You Think)](https://blog.stargarden.com/the-real-cost-of-payroll-errors-its-not-what-you-think) Find us in Canada, USA, and New Zealand Phone: 800-809-2880 [Email: info@stargarden.com](mailto:info@stargarden.com)   - [About Us](https://stargarden.com/about-us) - [Our Team](https://stargarden.com/our-team) - [Services](https://stargarden.com/Workflow) - [Products](https://stargarden.com/StarGarden-50) - [Resources](https://stargarden.com/hcm-management) - [News & Events](https://stargarden.com/news-and-events) - [Ebooks](https://stargarden.com/hr-ebooks) - [Product Videos](https://stargarden.com/hcm-demo-videos) - [Blog](https://blog.stargarden.com/) - [Contact Us](https://stargarden.com/Contact) - [Subscribe](https://stargarden.com/newsletter-subscription) - [Get a Quote](https://stargarden.com/Contact) © 2026 All rights reserved.