Sterling
Building trust and safety through comprehensive background and identity services.
Executive Summary
Sterling is a leading global provider of background and identity services, offering a comprehensive platform for pre-employment and post-hire screening. It serves a wide range of industries, including 50% of the Fortune 100, enabling organizations to make informed hiring decisions, mitigate risk, and ensure a safe workplace. The platform differentiates itself through a blend of advanced technology, including AI and automation, combined with human expertise, delivering fast, accurate, and compliant screening results.
Use Cases
- Pre-employment background checks for new hires across all industries.
- Contingent workforce screening for contractors, temporary staff, and gig economy workers.
- Post-hire monitoring and rescreening for ongoing compliance and risk management.
- Volunteer screening for organizations requiring trust and safety for their programs.
- Identity verification to prevent fraud and ensure accurate candidate data.
- Regulatory compliance for highly regulated sectors like healthcare and finance.
Features
Visibility
- Real-time Status Tracking: Clients and candidates can track the progress of background checks in real-time through dedicated portals and API updates.
- Customizable Reporting Dashboards: Interactive dashboards allow clients to view, filter, and drill down into screening data, providing a comprehensive overview of their programs.
- Self-Service Data Export: Users can download entire dashboards and underlying data for further analysis and integration with internal systems.
- Compliance Monitoring Tools: Tools and resources to help clients stay informed and compliant with evolving background screening regulations.
Intelligence
- AI-Powered Identity Verification: Utilizes biometric facial recognition, ID document analysis, and biographic data to quickly and accurately confirm candidate identities.
- Automated Criminal Record Searches (CourtDirect): Proprietary technology that automates a significant portion of criminal background checks, reducing turnaround times.
- AI-Enhanced Social Media Screening: Leverages AI, natural language processing, and image recognition to screen publicly available content for risky behaviors while ensuring compliance and reducing bias.
- SmartData Technology for Automation: Increases automation across the end-to-end screening process, from matching candidate data to applying order rules for faster, high-quality results.
Support
- Dedicated Client Success Managers: Provides personalized support and guidance for optimizing screening programs and addressing specific business needs.
- Candidate Support Hub: Offers resources, FAQs, and direct contact options (phone, email) for candidates to manage their background check process.
- Compliance Expertise & Resources: Access to compliance experts and a hub of resources to navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
- API Developer Portal: Provides documentation and tools for seamless integration with existing HRIS and ATS systems.
Technical Specifications
- Architecture
- Cloud-native SaaS, Microservices-oriented
- Deployment
- Cloud/SaaS
- Authentication
- SSO, SAML 2.0, MFA, OAuth 2.0, LDAP
- API Available
- Yes
- MCP Server
- No
Infrastructure
- AWS
- Azure
- GCP
AI/ML Stack
- NLP
- Machine Learning
- Computer Vision
- LLM
Integrations
- Workday
- SAP SuccessFactors
- Oracle
- ATS platforms
Security & Compliance
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA
Encryption: AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit
Pricing
- Model
- Custom enterprise, Tiered subscription
- Starting Price
- Contact sales
- Target Customer
- Mid-market to Enterprise
- Contract Type
- Annual, Multi-year discounts
- Free Trial
- No (credit card required)
About Sterling
Sterling provides background and identity services that help organizations create people-first cultures built on a foundation of trust and safety. Sterling was acquired by First Advantage for $2.2 billion.