On-premise vs. Cloud Software – What are the differences and what are the key advantages?
This is exactly the question many companies ask themselves when it comes to choosing the right solution for their business. In the following article you will find out the advantages and disadvantages of the respective variant.
What is an On-Premise Software?
On-Premise or “on-site”, means that the software is installed and operated locally on the in-house servers and computers. For this it is necessary to buy or rent usage licenses and the necessary hardware should already be available in the company. Maintenance, administration and data backup are the responsibilities of the user/company. This requires that the company has its own IT department and trained employees who look after the software. This also transfers responsibility for keeping it up-to-date to the owner and operator of the software. You will need a system administrator (= customer’s employee), to ensure the functionality of the software. It is the responsibility of the system administrator to take care of updates, new versions and costly maintenance work.
What is a Cloud Software?
The counterpart to on-premise software is “Software-as-a-Service” (SaaS for short). In this case, the data is stored in a “and is therefore not on the company’s own servers. In the case of a cloud-based solutions, the right of use is bought or rented. In contrast to an on-premise solution, the software does not have to be downloaded or installed. The software is made available to the user via the cloud, i.e., via the Internet, and it can be accessed from anywhere. The corresponding maintenance services, updates, backups, services and more are carried out by the service provider.
We at Workflow offer our customers on-premise as well as cloud solutions.
The “Webdesk EWP” system platform is robust standard software that is installed directly on your company server. The solution is particularly characterized by its high scalability. The cloud product “Personalwolke” is provided to the customer as software-as-a-service and is quickly ready for use without a complex installation process. In our case, the software is operated in an external data centre (computer centre in Austria). The customer data is processed in the data centre and is therefore not on the customer’s servers.
We have summarized the main advantages and disadvantages of the two solutions in a nutshell:
On-premise or cloud? It’s your decision, we can do both!
The answer is: you decide which solution is better for your company’s’ needs. We can deliver our software to you as an on-premise version or as a SaaS solution. We will be happy to advise you in advance of this decision and help you to make the right decision. Which solution is preferred ultimately depends entirely on the requirements and resources of your company?
It can be said that on-premise solutions have certain requirements, such as the required server infrastructure, human resources in IT and license costs. Larger customers and customers with complex requirements can be optimally implemented for this, as the system can be adapted to the needs. In addition, existing third-party systems can be linked and all data is processed on your servers.
Cloud solutions, on the other hand, are introduced quickly, independent and does not require an system administrator. You benefit from a pre-configured system, which to a certain extent can also be adapted to your own needs. Third-party systems can also be linked.
So, there is no clear winner. The decision can be made individually and according to the respective requirements.
Do you still need support in choosing the right HR software for your company? Together with you we determine your potential and find the best possible solution for you.
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