Demand for computational resources has grown exponentially in recent years. Early on, most companies didn’t need to deploy computing infrastructure internally. But today, companies in nearly every sector rely on sophisticated technology architectures to support the day-to-day operations of their businesses.
Because of the growing demand for IT infrastructure, many business models have emerged to address the different needs of companies. Cloud computing in particular has gained prominence in the past decade with the increase in demand for managed infrastructure. IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are some business models that have grown out of the cloud revolution.
Still, many companies can’t depend entirely on cloud services for their computing needs. They must decide whether investing in on-premises or off-premises infrastructure solutions is right for their business.
When a company owns, manages, and operates its own IT infrastructure, it’s considered “on-premises.”
The company’s internal IT team handles the design, build, and management of the systems. In some rare cases, third-party vendors may manage some components. But, in most cases, the organisation completely owns and manages the location, devices, software, and applications.
For “off-premises” infrastructure, a third party provides and maintains the infrastructure, facilities, and allied services.
The organisation doesn’t have the responsibility of maintaining the facilities or infrastructure. Organisations using infrastructure maintained by cloud service providers only need to worry about identifying the ideal resource combination for their applications.
Whether to build infrastructure in-house or outsource it is an important decision. It could potentially impact the company’s operating costs, efficiency, and performance for years. Given the potential consequences of taking the wrong approach, it’s important to understand the differences between on-premises and off-premises infrastructure.
In many ways, on-premises vs. off-premises infrastructure is similar to owning a house vs. renting one. Let’s look at the differences between on-premises and off-premises infrastructure across several key areas.
Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing on-premises vs. off-premises. It also isn’t necessary to choose one over the other entirely. Organisations that require a high degree of data security, for example, may take a hybrid-cloud approach. They might opt for a limited on-premises infrastructure paired with cloud-based SaaS applications on a private-cloud account for less sensitive situations.
Pure Storage® hybrid-cloud solutions—created in partnership with AWS, Microsoft, and VMware—can help organisations balance the privacy offered by on-premises infrastructure with the efficiency of off-premises infrastructure. Take a look at our Hybrid Cloud Buyer’s Guide for more on increasing the data effectiveness of your organisation.
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