Before choosing between on-premise or cloud-hosted servers, make sure you understand how the decision impacts your organization’s IT security efforts.
When it comes to organizations managing their website or digital tools and information, many opt for on-premise, cloud-hosted, or even a hybrid solution to store data in servers. However, when IT security is a top priority, can there only be one superior solution? Every business or organization should value their IT security, but it’s not the only consideration, nor is it the most flexible aspect, a company must accommodate. Here are some vital points to understand about on-premise vs. cloud-hosted servers, and how each option impacts your organization’s IT security efforts.
On-Premise Servers
On-premise hosting means the physical server and all its hardware is installed, used, and maintained on-site. The infrastructure of servers is typically more costly upfront to set up, which is why it’s not always a feasible option for some businesses. Further, these companies can expect to spend time, money, and resources on maintaining the equipment and training an in-house IT security team to manage the servers.
As your organization grows and as the available technology evolves, you will need to accommodate several changes. Your business will be responsible for updating the hardware and integrating new security measures to ensure your network can meet rising demands and combat cybersecurity threats. Keeping the physical servers on-site means you are directly responsible for the maintenance and accessibility of the hardware, as well as the data stored in them. For some institutions — like those in healthcare, government, or finance, to name a few — the information they must store is far too sensitive to be trusted to any third-party service. Consequently, it’s often these types of organizations that have the resources or legal requirement to employ on-premise servers.
Cloud Service or IaaS
In contrast, cloud services or IaaS (infrastructure as a service) host the digital tools and information for an organization from another location or service provider. Data storage, computations, and its necessary servers are housed off-site, and the information is delivered to the organization through the internet. This is an attractive option for small businesses to pay a fee for a cloud service company to manage the hardware and the security measures used to protect the information on the servers.
Trusting your data to third-party services has its shares of pros and cons. Your organization will have the benefit of outsourcing your IT security needs to the cloud service providers, who have the knowledge and resources to keep your data safe. When it comes time for updates or growth, the same third-party service can scale their service to your new storage or computing needs. However, relinquishing your control over your data management tools means you are letting go of your ability to respond to risks or breaches directly. Errors on the cloud service’s part can create liabilities to your network and your business. Additionally, your access to the cloud is reliant on your internet connectivity. While convenient in many cases, you can be cut off from the service if your internet bandwidth cannot keep up with your usage demands.
Healthcare IT Services and Solutions from Audley Consulting Group
The experts at Audley Consulting Group dedicate their passion and work to providing exceptional healthcare-centered IT services to our clients. Our consultants uncover your business needs to tailor an effective information technology solution that is unique to your situation. We proudly serve public and private sector clients in the Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia areas, and beyond. Audley Consulting group has delivered value-added IT services to businesses and government agencies. We can show how our healthcare IT services can benefit you too. To get started, call us at 301-770-6464, or visit our website. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.