What does on-premises mean?

On-premises (or "on-prem" as an informal abbreviation for "on-premises") refers to software or IT infrastructure that is installed and operated within an organization's own local computing environment, rather than being hosted or managed by a third-party cloud provider.The key points about on-premises software and IT are: It is installed and runs on computers and servers located on the premises (physical location) of the organization using the software, not in a remote data center or cloud. The organization is responsible for the hardware, software, maintenance, security, and operations of the on-premises IT infrastructure. This contrasts with cloud-based or "off-premises" software that is hosted and managed by a third-party provider and accessed over the internet.

What is the difference between on-premises and cloud?

There is a list of the key differences between on-premise and cloud computing:Location and hosting On-premise: IT infrastructure and software is located and hosted within the organization's own physical premises. Cloud: IT resources are hosted off-site by a third-party cloud service provider and accessed over the internet. Control and Ownership On-premise: Organization has full control and ownership over the hardware, software, and data.Cloud: Cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, while the organization has less direct control. Security On-premise: Organizations can have tighter control over security and compliance, but must manage it themselves. Cloud: Cloud providers typically offer robust security measures, but organizations cede some control to the provider. Scalability On-premise: Scaling up or down infrastructure can be more difficult and costly. Cloud: Scaling resources up or down is generally easier and more flexible. All in all, on-premise provides more control and customization, while cloud computing offers greater flexibility, scalability and potentially lower costs, but with less direct control over the infrastructure.

On-premises (private server) or cloud: How to choose

News

7/18/2024

9 minutes

Róbert Kováčik

When it comes to project management software, organizations have two main deployment options to consider: cloud-based and on-premises. Let us help you to choose the right deployment for the project management software!

Table of contents

On-premises software vs. cloud-based software
Benefits of cloud-based software
Benefits of on-premises (self-hosted) software
Easy Project on-prem or cloud-based?
1. Data security in project management tool
2. Storage of the project management software
3. Other features
Choose your deployment option

On-premises software vs. cloud-based software

The freedom of deployment in the case of project management software at least puts you into consideration between 2 choices. Easy Project allows you to decide on an on-premises (self-hosting) or cloud solution relying on our data centers with a high level of security. Although both variants are effective, you must evaluate the differences and choose wisely.

Benefits of cloud-based software

Cloud-based project management software allows you to plan, collaborate, manage, and deliver projects from anywhere in the world. You can view, modify, and manage files through a cloud system, performing activities in real time regardless of location. The remote server in a cloud computing system enables instant connection to your team, making project management quick and effective.

Cloud-based software ilustration

1. Cost-saving

When using cloud-based software, you do not have to worry about storage space, and will eventually save a lot of time. Project management tools with cloud computing systems connect employees throughout the world. This saves a lot of time and expense in contrast to different means of long-distance communication. Moreover, you do not have to share projects individually with outstation employees as they are connected to you through a cloud project management tool.

2. Flexibility and scalability

Cloud-based software offers extra bandwidth according to your needs. On the other hand, this cloud project management tool enables you to log in through a web browser. This way, you do not have to download specific applications to different devices. Also, you can access the data and manage your tasks through your mobile.

Cloud-based solutions allow businesses to quickly scale computing resources up or down based on demand, without the need for additional hardware investments.

3. Security

With cloud computing project management software, you can secure your data. For instance, when you have a master computer to store all the data, and that computer gets corrupt or suffers from a security breach, you cannot access your data. However, you can secure your data through the cloud system by adding two-factor authentication. This prevents cybercriminals from hacking your data or blackmailing you.

4. Mobility and collaboration

Cloud system keeps all your business activities at a central location. This means your employees can follow and update the status of each project while they travel.

For instance, if a salesperson is away to visit the client, he suddenly receives the payment. He can directly log in to his account on your company's project management tool and add the management tool's payment details.

5. Real-time insights

If you choose a cloud-based tool, it will help you generate real-time insights and update the team about the project. Insights help you view employee performance, their effectiveness, and productivity. With insights, you can make informed decisions.

6. Automatic software updates

Cloud-based project management software is automatically updated by the provider, eliminating the need for manual updates and reducing IT overhead.

7. Disaster recovery

Cloud computing offers robust disaster recovery capabilities, with data securely backed up and accessible even in the event of an on-premise system failure.

Map of hosting centres of Easy Project

Map of hosting centers

Benefits of on-premises (self-hosted) software

Self-hosted AKA on-premises means using your own server to keep the software. A developer will help you build self-hosted software. For a database, you need to hire a hosting company.

The price of self-hosting may vary depending on your usage. You can customize and create flexibility for your software through self-hosted software. There are lesser restrictions, and you have the choice to create designs and layouts. Moreover, you can choose from a variety of functionalities.

1. Customization

You can customize the tool according to your needs. For instance, you can customize your dashboard and choose the features that you want to highlight. On the other hand, the self-hosted tool helps you with easy and time-saving customization options.

2. Complete control

An on-prem project management tool allows complete control over your tasks and projects. Not just your interface, but you can design your privacy and security methods to keep your tool secure. When you install your project management tool on your server, every change and addition to the interface is under your control.

3. System integration

Self-hosted software allows you to integrate the tools you are currently using with your new on-promises project management tool. This saves a lot of money and time in transferring the data and purchasing tools that are limited to the software itself.

4. Storage capacity

With on-premises software, you can choose the storage capacity according to your needs. This makes small and large organizations eligible for using these project management tools. Moreover, you can extend the capacity of your tool whenever you want.

5. Easy to learn

You can quickly learn how to customize and operate self-hosting project management tools. Also, you are already aware of your future upgrades and maintenance fees.

On-premises software

Easy Project on-prem or cloud-based?

When choosing between self-hosted or cloud-based Easy Project project management tools, you need to go through various considerations. These elements will affect your decisions, depending on your needs and requirements.

Here are the aspects you should consider:

1. Data security in project management tool

Cloud and self-hosted Easy Project tools offer maximum security. However, there is a difference in choosing the security you are interested in. For instance, the cloud offers two-factor authentication and auto-updates on third-party plugins that protect your data from breaches.

Easy Project cloud security also enables you to recover your data through disaster recovery options. However, you need a service provider to ensure that your server is completely secure. Not to forget to mention, you can choose between a global cloud and a private cloud.

With the Easy Project project management tool powered by self-hosted servers, you can set your security measures and safeguard your data as per your needs. With this tool, you use different ways to keep your data safe. Even if you are not aware of methods to secure data, you can seek help from the Easy Project community.

2. Storage of the project management software

The self-hosting Easy Project tool has various storage risks that the cloud helps you solve. For instance, if your server broke or anything else happened to your computer, you lost all your data. You cannot quickly restore that data.

However, when you are using Easy Project on the cloud, your data is transferred to another server whenever you face similar issues. That is why many businesses are shifting from self-hosting to a cloud project management tool.

3. Other features

When you are using cloud-based Easy Project, you do not depend on a bare-metal server or high-speed internet. Furthermore, backup servers are costly and time-consuming. On the other hand, the cloud system will automatically update your Easy Project tool or plugin and restore the data.

Choose your deployment option

Freedom of deployment means choosing between cloud-based or on-premises project management software ultimately depends on an organization's specific requirements, such as data security, scalability needs, IT resources, and budget. Many enterprises opt for a hybrid approach, utilizing both cloud and on-premises solutions to leverage the strengths of each deployment model. Try your ideal option with Easy Project!

Frequently asked questions

The biggest risk with cloud computing is data breaches. This risk arises from the extensive data storage and the inherent vulnerabilities of cloud-based systems, which can be exploited by hackers to access sensitive information. Data breaches can occur due to various reasons such as unmanaged attack surfaces, misconfigurations, human errors, and malicious malware attacks, among others.

Companies can effectively manage their attack surface in the cloud by:

Continuously discovering and cataloging all cloud assets, including servers, databases, storage buckets, and applications.
Identifying misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and exposures in these assets.
Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory of the cloud attack surface.

On-premises (or "on-prem" as an informal abbreviation for "on-premises") refers to software or IT infrastructure that is installed and operated within an organization's own local computing environment, rather than being hosted or managed by a third-party cloud provider.

The key points about on-premises software and IT are:

It is installed and runs on computers and servers located on the premises (physical location) of the organization using the software, not in a remote data center or cloud.
The organization is responsible for the hardware, software, maintenance, security, and operations of the on-premises IT infrastructure.
This contrasts with cloud-based or "off-premises" software that is hosted and managed by a third-party provider and accessed over the internet.

There is a list of the key differences between on-premise and cloud computing:

Location and hosting

On-premise: IT infrastructure and software is located and hosted within the organization's own physical premises.
Cloud: IT resources are hosted off-site by a third-party cloud service provider and accessed over the internet.

Control and Ownership

On-premise: Organization has full control and ownership over the hardware, software, and data.
Cloud: Cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, while the organization has less direct control.

Security

On-premise: Organizations can have tighter control over security and compliance, but must manage it themselves.
Cloud: Cloud providers typically offer robust security measures, but organizations cede some control to the provider.

Scalability

On-premise: Scaling up or down infrastructure can be more difficult and costly.
Cloud: Scaling resources up or down is generally easier and more flexible.

All in all, on-premise provides more control and customization, while cloud computing offers greater flexibility, scalability and potentially lower costs, but with less direct control over the infrastructure.

On-premises Cloud

Data security

4 minutes read

Keep your data safe and encrypted in your project management tool in the AI era

Incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into project management tools is becoming increasingly vital for enhancing efficiency and productivity. Recognizing the paramount importance of data security and encryption, Easy Project is at the forefront with its innovative feature, Easy AI. This secure solution, available for cloud and on-premise deployment, ensures the highest data protection standards, particularly when harnessing the transformative potential of generative AI. As this new era redefines project workflows, it is imperative to consider and mitigate the risks of data breaches arising from overlooked security measures. Find out what to consider.