Choosing the Right IT Deployment Model: On-Premise, Cloud, or Hybrid
Choosing the optimal deployment model for IT infrastructure is one of the most critical decisions companies must make, especially when setting up or restructuring their IT landscape. With the variety of options available, from traditional on-premise solutions in their own data centers to modern cloud services and flexible hybrid models, this decision must be carefully weighed. The choice is influenced by numerous factors, including the specific requirements of the company, willingness to invest, and desired flexibility in scaling.
ON-PREMISE SOLUTIONS: MAXIMUM CONTROL AND SECURITY
On-Premise models offer the highest level of data control and security, as the IT infrastructure is managed directly on site. This is particularly beneficial for organisations with strict data protection requirements or those that require complete autonomy over their systems.
Advantages of On-Premise:
- Complete control over all data and IT systems.
- Compliance with strict data protection standards, especially in the EU.
- No dependence on external cloud provider.
- Permanent access to systems, even offline.
- Deep integration with existing business processes.
CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES:
High initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs, as well as the need for in-house IT teams to maintain and update systems, present a major challenge.
Organisations need to constantly invest in hardware, software and IT staff, and take care of maintenance, upgrades and scaling.
Best practices for managing on-premise infrastructure include
- Regular security audits and updates to ensure the integrity of systems.
- Implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans to minimise downtime.
- Training IT staff to ensure they are familiar with the latest technologies and best practices.
On-premise infrastructure gives organisations control, security and adaptability to manage their data and systems. Through careful planning and management, companies can realise the benefits of on-premise infrastructure and effectively achieve their business goals.
Cloud solution, full flexibility and scalability
What is the ‘normal’ cloud?
The cloud is an IT infrastructure that enables companies to utilise their resources via the internet instead of hosting them locally on site. Companies can run applications, data and services in the cloud to benefit from flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency.
The advantages of the cloud for on-premise environments:
- Flexibility and scalability: by using the cloud, companies can scale resources quickly and on demand to respond to changing requirements without having to buy additional hardware.
- Cost efficiency: The cloud enables companies to optimise their IT costs by only using the resources they actually need and avoiding expensive hardware investments.
- Security and compliance: Cloud providers implement strict security measures and certifications to ensure the security of their customers’ data and fulfil compliance requirements.
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Business continuity and disaster recovery: The cloud offers companies robust business continuity and disaster recovery solutions by storing their data in redundant data centres, minimising downtime.
Challenges and Best Practices:
Successful use of the cloud requires careful planning, implementation and management. Organisations should implement security measures and ensure that their data is safe and secure.
The cloud offers organisations flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency without losing control of their on-premise systems. With careful planning and implementation, organisations can take full advantage of the cloud and strengthen their competitiveness.
However, some companies have concerns about security and data protection in the cloud and therefore remain on-premise for an unnecessarily long time. This results in high investments in constantly new hardware for the on-premise solution. Cloud providers implement very high security standards and even on-premise is not considered 100% secure. So don’t hesitate to take the plunge and let us advise you. Find out more about Cloud as a Service here!
Hybrid Cloud, The best of both worlds On-Premise & Cloud
In today’s business world, flexibility is the key to success. Companies need to adapt to changing requirements without losing control of their data. The hybrid cloud combines the best of on-premise and cloud infrastructure to offer a versatile solution.
What is the hybrid cloud?
The hybrid cloud is an IT infrastructure that consists of a combination of on-premise and cloud resources. Companies use it to run workloads and applications in the cloud while keeping sensitive data locally.
The advantages of the hybrid cloud for on-premise environments:
Flexibility and scalability: Companies can scale resources in the cloud quickly and in line with demand while retaining control over their on-premise systems.
Cost efficiency: The hybrid cloud enables companies to optimise their IT costs by using only the resources they need in the cloud and hosting less critical workloads locally.
Security and compliance: By combining local and cloud resources, companies can ensure the security of their data and fulfil compliance requirements at the same time.
Business continuity and disaster recovery: Organisations can implement robust business continuity and disaster recovery strategies by backing up their data both on-premises and in the cloud.
Challenges and best practices:
Successful implementation requires careful planning, integration and management of on-premise and cloud resources. Companies should select the right cloud providers and technologies and implement security measures.
The hybrid cloud offers organisations the flexibility, scalability and security they need without losing control of their on-premise systems. With careful planning and implementation, companies can fully utilise the benefits of the hybrid cloud and strengthen their competitiveness.
Conclusion: The right decision for your company!
Every company has individual needs and goals that influence the choice of IT deployment model. While on-premise offers maximum control, cloud and hybrid solutions are better suited to companies that prioritise flexibility and rapid growth. Our team of experts will be happy to support you in selecting the optimal model to ensure that your IT strategy meets both current and future requirements. Please do not hesitate to contact us. An initial consultation with us is always free of charge and you can already derive valuable benefits from it.
BlogUpdate 2025
The IT world remains in a state of flux: While many companies have migrated their systems to the cloud via ‘lift & shift’ without a clear strategy in recent years, a rethink is emerging in 2025. The costs for cloud infrastructures are exploding, and some companies are considering switching back to on-premise environments. But is this the right approach?
Why many companies are moving out of the cloud in 2025
Companies that have moved their data to the cloud without a sound strategy are now facing challenges:
- Exploding costs: Uncontrolled usage leads to unpredictable spending.
- Performance issues: Not every application is suitable for the cloud.
- Data sovereignty: Compliance requirements or data protection concerns make operating within your own infrastructure more attractive again.
Successful cloud migration: Strategy is everything
A hasty change – whether to the cloud or back to on-premise – can result in high costs. Companies should therefore rely on a sound cloud strategy:
- Cost analysis & planning: Which workloads are really suitable for the cloud?
- Multi-cloud & hybrid approaches: Flexible solutions to get the best of both worlds.
- Exit strategy: Plan for alternatives from the outset to avoid expensive lock-in effects.
Conclusion: The right strategy is crucial
Cloud, hybrid or on-premise? The answer lies in an individual IT strategy. A well-planned cloud migration not only ensures cost efficiency, but also protects companies from unpleasant surprises.
The HWS Group supports companies in developing and implementing an optimal cloud strategy. Please feel free to contact us for an individual consultation!
Have we aroused your interest
MADE THE DECISION TO SWITCH FROM ON-PREMISE? AWAY FROM ON PREMISE?
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS!
Moving from an on-premise solution to another model such as the cloud or a hybrid solution requires careful planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition. Here are some important things a company should consider:
Thorough assessment of current infrastructure: organisations should conduct a comprehensive inventory of their current on-premise infrastructure, including hardware, software, databases and network configurations. This will help to understand the exact requirements for the transition.
Analyse the business requirements: It is important to understand the organisation’s business requirements and objectives to ensure that the new model meets these requirements. This may include scalability, performance, security, compliance and flexibility.
Selecting the right solution: Based on the assessment of business requirements, organisations should select the appropriate alternative to on-premise infrastructure, be it the cloud or a hybrid solution.
Develop a transition plan: A detailed transition plan should be created that defines the steps, timelines, responsibilities and resources for the transition. This may include the migration of data, the conversion of applications, training for employees and the implementation of new security measures.
Data migration and integration: Data migration from the on-premise infrastructure to the new environment is a critical step. Organisations should ensure that data is migrated securely and completely, and consider integration with existing systems and applications.
Employee training and retraining: Employees need to be prepared for the changes, whether through training in the use of new tools and platforms or retraining in new workflows and processes.
Monitoring and optimisation: After the transition, it is important to continuously monitor the performance of the new infrastructure and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that business requirements are met.
Continuous improvement: Organisations should view the transition as an ongoing process and gather feedback to continuously improve and adapt the infrastructure and processes.
A well-planned and executed move from on-premise to another model can bring numerous benefits, including cost savings, improved scalability and flexibility, and increased competitiveness.en to ensure that business requirements are met.
Glossar:
On Premise (On-Prem):
- Definition: On Premise Refers to the traditional provision of IT infrastructure and applications in a physical data centre or server room in the company.
Characteristics: Direct control over hardware, software and data, high capital expenditure for hardware and maintenance costs, requires dedicated IT experts on site.
Cloud Computing:
- Definition: A model in which IT resources such as computing power, storage and applications are provided and managed via the internet by a cloud service provider.
Features: Scalability, flexible utilisation and pay-as-you-use, reduced need for physical hardware on site, access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Hybrid Cloud:
- Definition: A combination of on-premises and cloud infrastructure in which data and applications can be moved seamlessly between the two environments.
Features: Provides flexibility and scalability, allows resources to be used as needed, requires integration technologies and strategies for smooth communication between environments.
Virtualisation:
- Definition: The technology used to convert physical IT resources such as servers, storage and networks into virtual instances in order to increase efficiency and make better use of resources.
Features: Enables server consolidation, rapid provisioning of new virtual machines, improved resilience and flexibility.
Containerisation:
- Definition: A method of deploying and running applications in isolated containers that contain all the necessary libraries and dependencies to improve the portability and consistency of applications.
Features: Provides a lightweight way to isolate, deploy and manage applications, simplifies deployment and scaling of applications.
Scalability:
- Definition: The ability of a system to increase or decrease its capacity according to demand in order to maintain performance.
Properties: Horizontal scaling (adding more instances) and vertical scaling (increasing the resources of a single instance) are typical approaches.
Security in the cloud:
- Definition: The set of practices, technologies and policies implemented to protect data, applications and infrastructure in the cloud from threats.
Characteristics: Encryption, access controls, security monitoring, regular audits and compliance with industry-specific standards are important components.
Data migration:
- Definition: The process of transferring data between different storage locations, such as from on-premises systems to the cloud or between different cloud platforms.
Characteristics: Requires careful planning to ensure data integrity, security and continuity, as well as suitable tools and technologies for efficient implementation.
Cost management:
- Definition: The management and optimisation of expenditure related to IT resources, including hardware, software, operations and maintenance.
Characteristics: Cloud computing offers usage-based billing, which potentially enables cost optimisation, but requires careful monitoring and control of resource usage.
Compliance und Governance:
- Definition: Compliance with legal regulations, industry-specific standards and internal guidelines relating to data protection, data security and ethics.
Characteristics: In the cloud, organisations must ensure that their infrastructure and data comply with applicable regulations and implement appropriate control mechanisms to ensure this.
This glossary is intended to clarify basic terms and concepts in connection with on-premises, cloud and hybrid environments.
