On-premises server or cloud: how to choose?

The question often comes up when a server reaches the end of its life and needs replacing. There is no universal right answer: the choice depends on your applications, your files, your Internet connection and how your business is organized.

What an on-premises server offers

• Local performance, useful for large files (plans, images, video).
• Continued operation during an Internet outage, for users who are in the office.
• On the other hand: an upfront investment, a suitable room (power, temperature), replacement every five to seven years, and off-site backups that are essential.

What the cloud offers

• Access from anywhere, without a complex VPN.
• No hardware to buy, house or replace.
• Adjustable resources and redundant infrastructure in a data center.
• On the other hand: dependence on the Internet connection, recurring costs, and applications that need checking before migration.

The criteria for deciding

• Business applications: does the vendor support cloud hosting, or offer its own online version?
• The volume and type of files handled day to day.
• The quality of the Internet connection and whether a backup link exists.
• The share of remote work and the number of sites.
• Data location requirements.
• The total cost over five years, compared honestly: hardware, licenses, maintenance, electricity and backup on one side; subscriptions on the other.

The hybrid model

Many SMEs combine both: Microsoft 365 for e-mail and collaboration, a server hosted in a data center for the business application, and sometimes a small local device for large files. This model is often the most realistic, provided it is documented.

If you choose the cloud

Check where the servers and backups are located, who administers what, and how to get your data back at the end of the contract. Hosting in Switzerland with backups spread across several sites meets most SMEs' expectations regarding confidentiality.