On-premise vs. Cloud: The Implications On Data Security

When a business is considering which Cloud infrastructure is the best fit for their company, there are a number of factors that they need to consider. Over the past decade, Cloud computing has significantly grown in popularity, offering organisations newfound flexibility and scalability. On-premise software, however, has been tried and tested by businesses and may continue to adequately meet their technical needs. In today’s digitally evolving marketplace, IT leaders are now considering the move to emerging Cloud applications to better achieve their business goals in a cost-effective manner.  

One of the biggest elements that companies need to evaluate is on-premise versus Cloud security. It’s clear that data security is becoming even more prevalent for enterprises as cyberattacks are on the rise. With on-premise, the business’ servers and data are physically located in the office, and IT executives can use backup and disaster recovery software to extract data during a cybersecurity threat. It’s important to remember that the management and maintenance of the network is the sole responsibility of the business. On the other hand, with Cloud-based security, a third party company hosts the organisation’s servers and data in a data centre and can provide additional support to manage the network. 

Peace of mind with on-premise 

With on-premise solutions, businesses can benefit from end-to-end customisation across the entire network, including servers and data in the organisation. Not only does this ensure the solution fits their specific needs, but it also gives IT leaders complete peace of mind that the security measures are shaped to their purpose. On-premise is also ideal for companies that operate in legal, healthcare or financial industries, and need to follow stricter cybersecurity policies. These businesses may feel more comfortable hosting their data onsite, rather than across the country in a data centre. 

What’s more, on-premise solutions benefit companies that already have an internal IT team. Whilst, initial investments for software and hardware may seem daunting, having a dedicated team of staff who can manage the infrastructure will ensure the business sees a return on investment. This team will be responsible for keeping the on-premise security running seamlessly which means the data is both secure and close by, as well as reducing the need to outsource support for a costly fee. 

Improved flexibility and scalability with the Cloud 

Although on-premise may suit some businesses, others are considering making the move to the Cloud for improved security quality. With the Cloud, a company’s data is not secured physically at their office for cyberhackers to take advantage of. This can reduce the risk of security breaches or threats onsite. In addition, with Cloud-based security, data centres have bolstered security features and a dedicated team of employees who can protect businesses data. Furthermore, Cloud systems will learn about an organisation’s network over time, ensuring that the solution grows with the company and can become more secure than on-premise. 

With Cloud storage, an organisation’s data can be housed in a data centre for an unlimited amount of time. This is especially important in today’s fast-paced environment as more and more jobs move to digital, so having the enterprises’ data online already can streamline business processes. Scalability is also one of the biggest advantages of Cloud computing. Data centres can quickly and easily evolve their resources to meet business needs or demands. This may include company growth or expansion across the globe, as well as the move to remote working in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To further bolster security, Cloud solutions back up a business’ data in multiple places on a regular basis. Downtime can have a staggering impact on an organisation, and Cloud applications can keep this to a minimum with data restored from a backup faster than an on-premise situation. Finally, large corporations must abide by a growing number of compliance regulations. Cloud-based security can help these types of businesses to maintain the required infrastructures and ensure current and future regulatory measures are met. 

Introducing hybrid Cloud solutions

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to considering on-premise or Cloud security. Whilst both applications can be customised to fit the needs of a business, some organisations are selecting hybrid options that boast the benefits of both on-premise and cloud solutions. A hybrid cloud is an environment that combines an on-premise data centre with the public Cloud, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. For businesses with data that increases beyond the capabilities of their data centre, they can use the Cloud to instantly scale capacity either up or down to handle the demand. It also mitigates the time and cost of purchasing, installing and maintaining servers onsite that they may not need in the future.