In the past, all software at companies was installed on local computers. Each organization had its own server, which was managed by the IT department. Quite simply, there was no more choice. Today, that has changed. Traditional "on-premise" deployment is still an option, but fully cloud-based and hybrid variants are becoming increasingly popular. It all depends on your preferences and circumstances. What things do you want to manage in-house? Where do you want to rely on the expertise of a partner? Here's a list of which software deployment options you can choose from and what the differences are.
On-Premise
Does your organization have its own up-to-date servers, sufficient storage capacity and good infrastructure? Then an on-premise deployment is the obvious choice. The software is installed and maintained locally. As a company, you yourself (or with the help of an ICT partner) bear full responsibility for managing and maintaining the environment to ensure that the software continues to function properly. This is the right choice for companies who want full control over the environment or who have recently made investments in hardware and infrastructure. Does your organization lack the components necessary for a successful on-premise installation? Then the initial purchase cost may be very high and the alternatives below may be of interest.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
With Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), you put the management of the hardware (servers, server room, etc.) in the hands of a specialized ICT partner. The configuration, maintenance and replacement of the servers is done by your ICT partner. Ideal when you do not have the right expertise or want to save time. In addition, with IaaS you can choose not to purchase the hardware, but to pay for its use on a monthly subscription basis. The management of the environment, including the software applications that use the infrastructure, is still in your hands.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Maximum unburdening is achieved with Platform as a Service (PaaS). In addition to the infrastructure, the ICT partner in a PaaS model also takes care of setting up the platform. This includes the operating system and middleware (e.g. IIS, .NET, SQL, etc.). You do not have to deal with the purchase and maintenance of hardware and infrastructure and can easily save time and costs.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
In addition to outsourcing management over servers and infrastructure, it is also possible to outsource only management of an application. This is called Software as a Service (SaaS). In this model, the fuller management of the environment needed to run the application is handled by the SaaS provider. Think of infrastructure, operating systems, database, server, backup, etc. You yourself still need to provide a good Internet connection. The SaaS provider is often a different party than the partner you choose for IaaS or PaaS.
There is no standard ROI tool that calculates what the best choice is for your organization. It depends entirely on the circumstances within your organization and your requirements. Therefore, carefully map out the situation within your organization. What components and expertise do you have in house? What role do aspects such as security, legislation, flexibility, IT strategy and future plans play? And of course, what are the costs (initial and recurring) of the deployment options? That way, you can make an informed choice.
Jean-Pierre Reniers is Technical Consultant at Dysel and supports customers in all technical issues related to the use of enterprise software.
