One of the main things you should consider when looking to deploy web applications that your company could use to manage finances, operations, employees, data, etc. is: Is this going to the Cloud or on-premise?
What is cloud computing?
The cloud solution is a model in which a third-party makes computing resources accessible for use. And it is a multi-tenant environment, implying that the computing resources are shared by different people or corporations, with all data secured by best in class encryption.
What is On-premise?
The on-premise solution is the private data centers that corporations manage themselves and house in their facilities. The infrastructure of on-premise can be utilized to run private clouds, in which virtualized with compute resources similarly as those of public clouds.
On-Premise Vs. Cloud Data Storage
Presently many people have characterized the Cloud in a variety of ways, but there’s one great defining feature: the application can be accessed through the public Internet. That is the cloud implementation significant benefits, allowing you to connect to the application without connecting a VPN into the corporate system. However, this is likewise the wellspring of one of the significant drawback of the Cloud – security exposure. If your credentials compromised, or there is a security flaw in the application, an attack can strike anytime.
On-premise is the more conventional way to manage applications. The data center houses the machines that contain the application data, and data never flow outside the company. On-premise data storage gives you peace of mind that attackers should first crack the internal network before breaking into the application. Many known providers have had their client data compromised.
Below table shows how the two models compare
| Individual/ Corporations Needs | Cloud Solution | On-premises Solution |
| Highly secure data encryption | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable hardware | Yes | |
| Data-center single tenancy | Yes | |
| Purpose-built systems | Yes | |
| Infrastructure requires large investments | Yes | |
| Capacity easy to scale up and down | Yes | |
| Usage-based pricing | Yes | |
| Automated data backups and recovery | Yes | |
| 100% data visibility and control | Yes | |
| Near-zero downtime risk | Yes |
Cloud or On-premise Solution, Which One is Better
Cloud data storage solutions cost a low amount every month for as long as you have the service, and this can add up to a large amount once you add up the number of years you will be using the service. On-premise is a higher cost upfront and lower maintenance going forward. In most cases on-premise costs less yet the financial needs for every business conspicuously vary. For example, corporations that have on-premise data center will as often as possible lean toward an on-premise solution as opposed to Cloud solutions, because they are already paying overhead expenses and adding another server won’t increase them. Likewise, a Salesforce application that salespersons are accessing through cell phones outside their home office is in all probability going to be hosted on cloud application.
It is good to understand how your decision to start using on-premise or cloud solution will influence the success of your business. Try not to feel like you have jumped directly into the Cloud since every other person is doing it. Set aside time to research your option, understand the trade-offs, and pick the one that works best for you.
