Should your organization switch to cloud storage for data security? Finding an honest answer to this question isn’t easy because many articles are created by platforms with an agenda for or against it. At Cloudficient, we want what’s best for your company, and the truth is that there are pros and cons to both solutions.
Read on to discover the true advantages of the cloud vs. on-premise infrastructure.
In the realm of information technology, your organization’s infrastructure refers to the critical data systems used for operations. This term includes both hardware and software.
Common hardware infrastructure components:
Common software includes:
If you use a cloud-based storage solution, hardware resources are located in the operator’s data centers. Your organization pays to use its platforms, operating system, servers, and network hardware. Cloud platforms also offer software and applications, from security backups to business messaging systems such as Exchange Online.
With on-premise infrastructure, your enterprise must:
Some businesses only need a single server, but many enterprises need to build and manage a dedicated data center complete with:
A large and growing number of businesses around the world are adopting cloud-based infrastructure. As of 2022, 60% of all enterprise data lives in the cloud instead of in-house data centers. There are important reasons for this shift in corporate information storage.
The data centers that host third-party cloud platforms such as Azure and Amazon Web Services are massive. This means that your enterprise can scale its storage needs effortlessly as the size of your operations grow.
Cloud storage can also handle a sudden shift in users or computing resources. This feature is useful for enterprises that need to hire a large number of workers for short-term projects or surge operations.
For large organizations still using on-premise Microsoft Exchange servers, email repositories and critical files may be spread out among several server locations — even in different countries. This complicates monitoring and compliance with regulations such as Europe's General Data Protection Regulation. An advantage of cloud vs. on-premise platforms is that you can keep company archives accessible at all times from any location.
Cloud solutions aren’t just for hosting company-wide email systems or archiving documents securely. They also provide computing resources for getting work done. Whether your organization has a proprietary software platform or uses a third-party SaaS platform, the cloud can support your operations around the world. Here are a few examples:
This type of centralized business management platform is especially helpful for enterprises with remote workers or a hybrid workforce.
When you choose cloud-based data storage, you entrust cybersecurity for the cloud to the third-party provider. This is a good thing — if the platform is trustworthy. Fortunately, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google all follow rigorous industry cybersecurity standards:
Microsoft’s budget for cloud security is roughly $1 billion annually. Few enterprises can come close to that kind of budget for in-house IT.
Another benefit of the cloud vs. on-premise infrastructure is that setting up your own data center requires a large capital investment. Cloud-based options are cost-effective, offering subscription-like services where you only pay for the storage space and computing power you need at the time.
Technology advances constantly, meaning that hardware and software can become obsolete relatively quickly. As an example, Exchange Server 2013 and older versions are no longer supported by security patches, and Exchange Server 2016 has already been replaced.
With cloud servers, your team doesn’t need to handle security patches, OS upgrades, or hardware replacements. Everything is "plug and play."
Last but not least, housing company archives and infrastructure on the cloud can protect core processes and data if natural disasters strike. Thanks to redundant servers and data centers around the world, cloud-based backups aren’t as vulnerable to flooding, tornadoes, or lightning strikes — though temporary outages do happen on a rare occasion.
For some businesses, the balance of on-premise vs. cloud storage swings toward in-house servers.
Not all enterprises feel comfortable trusting a third party to coordinate cybersecurity — even when it’s Microsoft or Google. Operating an on-premise data center allows IT departments to control every aspect of system access, security credentials, and data handling. Some defense contractors and companies with highly sensitive materials choose this route.
Another downside of the cloud vs. on-premise servers is the ability to create a closed network where system devices stay within the company’s platform for internal communications. For example, you can filter incoming emails for cybersecurity and check outgoing messages for proprietary information. External software and VPNs can still introduce vulnerabilities through the supply chain, however.
Choosing where to host your company’s files, tools, or software platform doesn’t need to be a black-and-white decision. Some enterprises opt for a hybrid approach. They take advantage of the benefits of the cloud for the majority of business operations but also maintain a smaller data center with the most sensitive organizational records.
Investing in a trustworthy data infrastructure is more important than ever before. Some factors to consider include:
After carefully considering the pros and cons, you may discover that migrating to the cloud is the right choice for your enterprise in terms of productivity, efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
If your enterprise hasn’t made the jump to the cloud due to the cost or complexity of migrating your systems from a legacy Exchange server, we have intelligent solutions. At Cloudficient, our team has extensive experience and state-of-the-art tools to streamline data migration to Office 365 and we’re happy to provide detailed information on cloud vs. on-premise systems.
With unmatched next generation migration technology, Cloudficient is revolutionizing the way businesses retire legacy systems and transform their organization into the cloud. Our business constantly remains focused on client needs and creating product offerings that match them. We provide affordable services that are scalable, fast and seamless.
If you would like to learn more about how to bring Cloudficiency to your migration project, visit our website, or contact us.