Covering the Basics
Deciding on a storage environment for your business can always be tricky. It would be best if you considered several factors before making a final decision, as this decision will be an integral part of how your business operates.
What Is On-premise?
On-premise means the data is stored on local hardware, such as servers, computers, or other devices. With on-premise storage, the organization owns all the equipment and is responsible for maintenance and costs of the storage hardware.
What Is the Cloud?
The cloud storage model of
cloud computing is when the data is stored on the internet through cloud computing providers. They offer to manage and operate data storage as a service. It is an on-demand service with just-in-time capacity and costs. This eliminates the need to buy and manage data storage infrastructure.
Key Differences: On-premise Vs. Cloud
There are various components that both these approaches bring to the table. In-depth and proper consideration of these components will help to determine which system best suits your business requirements. Some of the key differences to look out for are as follows:
Deployment
On-premise
The organization is responsible for maintaining solutions and all the related processes. The whole deployment process takes place in-house using the organization’s infrastructure.
Cloud
In a hosted cloud environment, the service provider is the one who maintains the systems on their servers, which can be accessed by the enterprise at any given time.
Control
On-premise
While using an on-premise environment, enterprises enjoy absolute control over their systems and can maintain the utmost privacy. Privacy is the prime reason why some big organizations choose to stay away from the cloud.
Cloud
Shared ownership and accessibility remain an issue in a cloud environment when there is downtime. This tends to happen even when the data and encryption keys are shared with the third-party provider.
Compliance
On-premise
Most companies must abide by government and industry regulations. Maintaining data in-house makes it easier for organizations to remain compliant.
Cloud
While opting for the cloud, organizations must ensure that the service provider meets the regulatory mandates within their specific industry.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Before picking your side in the ‘Cloud vs. On-premise storage’ conundrum, it is essential that you compare all the pros and cons of both the data storage solutions. This would help you understand which storage facility would suit your organization.
Why Choose On-premise?
On-premise storage relies heavily on the infrastructure that the organization has to offer. The organization is the sole owner of all the equipment and will be responsible for its lifecycle management. One of the significant upsides of using on-premise storage is that it provides the organization with an internal network that is accessible anytime, irrespective of the status of your internet connection. Another critical factor to weigh here would be superior security. When using on-premise, your data isn’t vulnerable to third parties or anyone outside the network.
The Shortcoming of On-premise
Despite the advantages that being on-premise offers, there are inevitable drawbacks that come along with it. The requirement for additional IT support is something that needs to be addressed. An organization will have to hire additional staff to maintain and run the on-premise storage environment. Another major shortcoming is the added cost of outside audits and potential fines that could be incurred when the infrastructure is found not to be complying with compliance.
Why Choose Cloud?
Cloud storage is the preferred option among most organizations to store their data. As the cloud service is offered by a third party, organizations don’t have to worry about maintaining the cloud servers. Cloud storage helps the organization eliminate a major chunk of capex. The most ideal aspect of the cloud is that it can be adjusted to the needs of an organization. Upgrading plans is as simple as clicking a button or two.
Shortcoming of Cloud
The importance of the internet is a major concern when we talk about the shortcomings of the cloud. A big part of the user experience would depend on how good the internet connection is. It is also essential that the organization keep a close eye on spending. Even when there is a pay-as-you-go plan, there are always chances of costs ballooning without notice.
"Cloud computing is often far more secure than traditional computing because companies like Google and Amazon can attract and retain cyber-security personnel of a higher quality than many governmental agencies." - Vivek Kundra, former federal CIO of the United States
An Alternate Solution: Hybrid Cloud
While there is always a debate around cloud storage vs. on-premise and which would best suit your organization, another viable option that organizations can opt for is the hybrid cloud. This option offers the organization the best of both worlds. The
hybrid cloud option provides the organization with elements from different types of IT deployment models. The hybrid cloud infrastructure is developed using a public cloud platform from a trusted third party and a private cloud that can either be on-premise or through a hosted private cloud provider.
Conclusion
Choosing the ideal data storage option for your organization is an important task. There has been a strong migration of organizations from on premise to cloud storage. The cloud computing market hence is expected to grow from 445.3 billion USD in 2021 to 947.3 billion USD in 2026. Looking at the cost benefits and accessibility perks that the organization gains, there is no specific need for a justification for this
migration. With constant innovation being the path ahead, cloud storage offers everything that would help an organization become highly innovative and proficient.
Collab9 deployed its cloud-based, Cisco-powered UC platform across Raymond Handling Concepts’ seven sites. The Cisco HCS solution provided by collab9 proved to be more reliable and cost-effective than the traditional PRI service Raymond Handling was using before. The collab9 solution was also lightyears ahead of its old PBX system in how easy it was to administer.
FAQ
Is Cloud Storage More Expensive than On-premise?
Cloud storage is more cost-effective when compared to on-premise data centers. With cloud computing, an organization can drastically reduce their capital investments, along with all the additional maintenance charges that come along with them.
Why Is Cloud Storage Better than On-premise?
Cloud storage is considered better than on-premise storage as it offers a tremendous amount of innovative freedom to the organization. As a result, businesses can scale their requirements depending on the demand of their business and effectively reduce the stress of maintaining physical servers.
What Is the Most Significant Stress Point for Cloud Storage?
One of the most significant cloud storage pressure points is the initial stage of a company’s migration from legacy systems to a cloud storage platform.