The previous article explained what a cloud server is. Although cloud servers have many advantages, not every company chooses them. An on-premise server is another option. An on-premise server refers to a server located inside the company and not connected to external servers, so it may appear more secure. It mainly relies on the IT team’s manual maintenance and usually has no automated settings.
What are the drawbacks of on-premise servers in practice?
Data can be lost easily - Emergency downtime caused by disasters can happen, and some data may be lost during office relocation or other incidents. The IT team cannot predict how much data will be lost; much depends on luck, and lost data may not always be recoverable. Data backup also relies entirely on manual operation. If a cyberattack happens before backup, unbacked data may be lost.
High maintenance cost - On-premise servers do not have automated settings, so software updates and data backup depend on IT staff. The entire operation is highly dependent on the IT team, and without their support server uptime may be affected. They must also constantly check server security and stability. If security is not up to date, the server is more vulnerable to attack.
Expensive software installation - On-premise servers do not include built-in software, so additional software must be purchased and installed. This requires extra money as well as time, increasing total cost.
Using an on-premise server certainly involves significant expense, but does higher cost mean it is not useful?
Offline operation - Because it is used internally, data can be viewed without an internet connection. Although most businesses rely on the internet, they still worry that network loss can damage productivity and prevent access to critical data. Offline operation is therefore one advantage.
More tailored software and hardware - Because an on-premise server does not include built-in software, the company’s required software and hardware are installed by its IT team. Unlike cloud server users, the company does not need to spend extra time communicating with an outsourced IT company. Users of on-premise servers can communicate directly with their own IT team, increasing flexibility and making it easier to build software and hardware that fit company needs.
In practice, on-premise servers cannot be judged as good or bad based on features alone. Before choosing a server model, first understand the company’s positioning and needs.
Translation supported by AI.