Historically, on-premise exchange servers have dominated the market. In the past, these servers were responsible for bringing new features and services to customers. Even though they were reliable, the demands throughout the market started to change. These exchange servers got too large, and space continues to be at a premium.
Now, cloud services are arriving in the market. Office 365 is one example, and on-premise exchange servers are starting to lose out. The pattern is becoming apparent, and there is a paradigm shift taking place in cloud technology. People need to know the differences between having an on-premise exchange server and Office 365.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of an On-Premise Exchange Server
An on-premise exchange server is still available for purchase; however, it does require sufficient hardware and software to get up and running. Some of the advantages of having an on-premise exchange server include:
- The organization that owns the server has total authority over it
- The software can be individually configured to meet the needs of the user
- Many business applicants can be integrated perfectly with the exchange server
- Security plans can be upgraded to meet the needs of the server easily
- Files are archived at a single location
On the other hand, there are a few disadvantages that people need to note regarding this exchange server. Some of the most significant drawbacks of having an on-premise exchange server include:
- The owner is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of both the hardware and software, which can get expensive, exceptionally as this technology starts to age
- The owner needs to have an on-site administrator who is responsible for managing the data
- There needs to be an access and control team who can stop attempts at unauthorized access
- Installing an on-premise exchange server is a significant investment and requires a tremendous amount of space
- To effectively run an on-premise exchange server, a considerable number of IT experts are needed who can manage DNS services, firewalls, and Active Directory needs
These are a few of the most important disadvantages of having an on-premise exchange server and has driven the growth of cloud services such as Office 365
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Office 365
The easiest way to spot the difference between Office 365 and on-premise exchange servers is through their advantages and disadvantages. Some of the benefits of Office 365 include:
- Those who use Office 365 can still get many of the same servers of physical servers, including Skype, SharePoint, email services, and more
- Unlike the amount of time it takes to install a physical server, the services from Office 365 are available as soon as the subscription is signed
- There are no updates required on behalf of the user, which saves the company money
- Microsoft is responsible for all of the hardware and software updates, and this is completed without harming the uptime of Office 365
- By using a cloud platform, the overhead costs to the business are reduced significantly, meaning that more money can be invested back in the business
At the same time, there are a few disadvantages to note, as well. Some of the most significant drawbacks to note include:
- It is unclear exactly where the data is stored as Microsoft has data centers all over the globe
- Manual data migration may require third-party assistance
- By using a third-party cloud service, the user does surrender some degree of control
- It may be hard to archive data or functions through Office 365
For people to decide whether or not cloud services such as Office 365 are right for them, they need to think about the needs of their business. Then, they should contact trained professionals to learn more.
Contact Secur01 Today
At Secur01, we assist our clients with data migration and cybersecurity services. If you are interested in shifting to cloud-based computing services, we would be happy to assist you. We will do everything we can to meet your expectations. Contact us today to learn more about our services!
