HostingCloud
Cloud or on-premise server? How to choose hosting for your system
By [AUTHOR_NAME]6 min read
The comparison
Cloud vs on-premise
Upfront cost
- Cloud:
- Low
- On-premise:
- Hardware and setup
Monthly cost
- Cloud:
- Usage-based subscription
- On-premise:
- Power, maintenance, admin
Branch access
- Cloud:
- Easy
- On-premise:
- Needs HQ network and stable internet
Availability
- Cloud:
- Usually high
- On-premise:
- Depends on power and setup
Data control
- Cloud:
- Provider, per contract
- On-premise:
- Fully in-house
| Criterion | Cloud | On-premise |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Low | Hardware and setup |
| Monthly cost | Usage-based subscription | Power, maintenance, admin |
| Branch access | Easy | Needs HQ network and stable internet |
| Availability | Usually high | Depends on power and setup |
| Data control | Provider, per contract | Fully in-house |
Questions that decide it
- Does a regulator dictate where data must live?
- Where do users connect from?
- Do you have backup power, cooling and a secure room for a server?
- Who will run updates and backups?
- What is each option’s real monthly cost over 3 years?
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Is the cloud safe for company data?
Configured properly (encryption, permissions, backups), it’s often safer than a poorly managed in-house server.