Because no two companies have the exact same IT requirements, managed services providers (MSPs) offer several options for deploying IT service technology. As a business owner, you need to take various factors — including the nature, goals, and resources of your organization — into account to determine which option will give you the best results.
You can choose from three deployment models:
#1 On-premise IT
On-premise IT means your entire IT infrastructure, including your applications and data, are stored in servers housed within your office building. This arrangement gives you full control over all aspects of your IT system, enabling you to customize it according to the specific needs of your company. It also ensures that only the members of your organization have ready access to your data, which makes on-premise IT attractive to banks and other businesses in highly regulated industries.
However, with great control comes great responsibility. Because you’re limiting outsider access to your IT infrastructure, you will need a dedicated in-house team whose main role is to maintain your hardware and secure your data. Considering the cost of employing highly trained technicians full-time, as well as the cost of continuous specialized training, on-premise IT could very well end up costing an arm and a leg. And with all your files confined in a single location, any calamity that damages your servers and other hardware may lead to the irrevocable loss of crucial data.
#2 Hosted IT
Also known as cloud or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, hosted IT means your infrastructure is managed by a third-party cloud service provider (CSP). In this approach, your applications or data are stored in multiple servers in different locations and are accessible through the internet. Hosted IT is ideal for those who want a well-oiled IT system without the need to make large investments in hardware or an in-house IT department.
The greatest strengths of the cloud are convenience and security. Because all your files are accessible online, your team can work in different places and still be able to collaborate with ease. To prevent file corruption and loss, cloud solutions store data backups so you can restore your data in the aftermath of a disaster or cyberattack.
Hosted IT has low entry costs because all you need to get started are internet-ready devices with which to access your files. Because you need to pay the provider a monthly fee to keep the service going, hosted IT can become pricier than on-premise solutions after a few years. Keep in mind, however, that CSPs usually upgrade their facilities at little to no extra cost to clients. These upgrades improve the IT system’s efficiency and security, and would be costly in an on-premise model.
#3 Hybrid IT
If you want the merits of both hosted and on-premise solutions, nothing gives you the best of both worlds better than hybrid IT. In this approach, you keep some of your resources on-site and the remaining in the cloud. It usually involves the use of a private cloud, an internal network that only the members of your organization can access, in tandem with a conventional public cloud.
The hybrid approach is ideal for businesses looking to meet regulatory requirements for handling data. It also works for companies looking to bolster their existing on-premise system with the power of cloud computing. In either case, the addition of the cloud will help improve the company’s security, agility, and flexibility.
Conversely, hybrid IT systems can be prone to hiccups without careful planning. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that all the components of your infrastructure are compatible with each other. You should also identify which applications will live in the cloud and which will stay on-premise. Ironing out these concerns early on will prevent problems and ensure the system’s efficiency.
Your IT system is an important factor in your business’s success. It’s important that you choose a deployment model that addresses your business’s needs and matches its goals. If you need more information about each of the options and their potential impact on your business, just contact us and we’d be glad to help.
