Cloud vs. on-premises: What's right for your business?
In today's world, almost everything has moved online. For businesses, this includes shifting from on-premises to cloud-based software systems.
For those organizations still stuck in their traditional ways, that have yet to make the transition, it may seem like a stressful or overwhelming move. But in order to future-proof a business, we are fast approaching the point where it is no longer a choice.
If moving to the cloud has been part of your business’ plans for some time but you’ve been putting it off, if you’re feeling lost and unsure of where to begin, or if you don’t even know what any of these terms mean, then this article is for you. This will introduce you to the key terms, outline where to begin, guide you through the process, and show you that any change is not as difficult as you might think.
What does on-premises mean?
Traditionally, most organizations relied on installing on-premises software. This type of software is deployed in-house and is operated from a server and computing infrastructure stored, as the name suggests, on the physical premises of that organization
A software license for each server or end user is required, and the organization is responsible for the overall management and security of the software. Until recently, on-premises software was thought of as a more secure option, largely because the software remains on an organization's server.
However, there are some drawbacks to installing on-premises software, including:
Cost: You must pay upfront for the software and there may be additional annual maintenance fees.
Infrastructure: You must purchase your own hardware to run the software, and you are also responsible for upgrading and replacing your hardware over time.
Security: Although having your software and data on-site can give a feeling of comfort, it comes with added responsibility. Regular backups and updates need to be carried out, and maintenance is required often for your software to run smoothly.
Access: Employees cannot access the software unless they are on-site. As a result, your employees lose the ability to collaborate on projects outside of the office.
The capital investment, ongoing maintenance, and responsibility of server hardware are enough to make an organization think twice about installing on-premises software.
For this reason, an increasing number of organizations have transitioned, turning to the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model to address their specific needs.
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