On-Premises Data Centres vs. Cloud Computing
On-prem and cloud computing defined
An on-premises data centre is a group of servers that you privately own and control. Traditional cloud computing (as opposed to hybrid or private cloud computing models) involves leasing data centre resources from a third-party service provider.
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On-premises data centres definition
"On-prem" refers to private data centres that companies house in their own facilities and maintain themselves. On-prem infrastructure can be used to run private clouds, in which compute resources are virtualised in much the same way as those of public clouds (however, private clouds can also be run on leased third-party hardware).
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Cloud computing definition
When people speak of cloud computing, they’re most often referring to "traditional," or "public," cloud, a model in which a third-party service provider makes computing resources available for consumption on an as-needed basis. Public cloud is a multi-tenant environment, meaning that these computing resources are shared by multiple individuals or companies, with all data secured by state-of-the-art encryption.
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HPE products and solutions
Hybrid cloud: Use HPE to power your apps and services, placing workloads in on-prem data centres or in the cloud, as appropriate.
Composable infrastructure: Empower your IT to create and deliver value instantly, continuously and at the speed and flexibility of cloud – within your own secure data centre.
HPE SimpliVity: Use HPE SimpliVity hyperconverged infrastructure to create an on-prem or hybrid cloud solution.
On-prem and cloud compared
Both on-prem and cloud computing can provide your business with the IT infrastructure it needs. The model you choose will likely depend on the level of security you need in order to meet compliance standards and on the cost structure you prefer. Here’s a look at how the two models compare.
Business need: Data centre single tenancy (for compliance)
On-premises: ✔
Public Cloud: X
Business need: Highly secure data encryption
On-premises: ✔
Public Cloud: ✔
Business need: Customisable hardware, purpose-built systems
On-premises: ✔
Public Cloud: X
Business need: Capacity easy to scale up and down
On-premises: X
Public Cloud: ✔
Business need: Infrastructure requires large, regular investments
On-premises: ✔
Public Cloud: X
Business need: Pay-as-you-go, usage-based pricing
On-premises: X
Public Cloud: ✔
Business need: Complete data visibility and control
On-premises: ✔
Public Cloud: X
Business need: Built-in, automated data backups and recovery
On-premises: X
Public Cloud: ✔
Business need: Near-zero downtime risk
On-premises: X
Public Cloud: ✔