Servers vs. the Cloud: Which is Best for Your Business? | cloud computing

Servers vs. the Cloud: Which is Best for Your Business?

Adobe.com
Save 40% when upgrading to Creative Cloud : For existing CS3 or later customers
$49.99/month $29.99/month : 12-month contract required

Posted by + on 15-Aug-2012 in cloud computing, columns, featured post, The HRIS World Research Network | 0 comments

Send to Kindle

Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World.

In just about every company, there’s an ongoing IT conversation about whether to adopt a cloud-based or dedicated server environment.

This a hotly debated issue in the IT community with convincing arguments on either side.

On one hand, dedicated servers allow you and your team to have a high level of control over every aspect of data management.

On the other hand, cloud-based servers are much more flexible and less expensive.

The argument really comes down to a discussion about cost vs. computing power.

With various blurry lines on either side of the argument – dedicated server technology is becoming less expensive and cloud server platforms are coming with higher levels of computing power – it can be hard to come to a decision.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of each server environment, and then you can decide where you land on the dedicated vs. cloud server issue.

Dedicated Server Benefits
Reliability/Response Times

One of the main arguments for dedicated server platforms is that they are simply faster and more reliable.

While the response time differences between the two server environments can literally be broken down to milliseconds in time differences, the performance of a dedicated server has proven to be significantly fast.

Fully Customizable Configurations

For enterprise-class companies, customizing the infrastructural computing environment may prove to be a top reason for using a dedicated server.

You can purchase a one-box solution and set up a scalable server in less time than it would take to put together a physical machine, further reducing the benefits offered by the cloud.

This is one particular weakness with cloud or shared hosting services.

In many cases, you must submit a formal support request every time you want to make major changes to the server configuration.

More Control Over Apps

Again, apps used in an enterprise environment require a high level of customization.

In most shared server environments, what you’re essentially getting are apps in a can that already have preset parameters.

With a dedicated server, you can fully customize business-essential solutions like e-mail and/or server management applications.

Cloud Server Benefits
High Level Scalability

Second to simply being cheaper than dedicated servers, this is probably the most compelling argument for adopting a cloud server environment.

Cloud servers are highly flexible and scalable, and many hosted servers allow you to scale up, down and out on the fly.

This is especially helpful for small businesses and startup who don’t need dedicated super servers right out of the gate.

Easy to Use

Most small businesses and startups are not in the position to hire expensive consultants and server architecture specialists to get things up and running.

Cloud-based servers require minimal training and can be up and running in a matter of a few hours.

Cost Effective

Cloud servers are usually offered as a subscription service.

This means you don’t have to purchase massive amounts of servers, or rack space in an expensive data center.

You can usually pay for cloud servers by the hour, week or month, depending on the service you are using.

 

CONCLUSION

The truth is that no two businesses are the same.

What works for one company is not guaranteed to work for another.

When approaching the server conversation, every IT department needs to have an open mind about what is actually realistic in terms of cost and resources, and what is beneficial to the infrastructure as a whole.

 

Dawn Altnam

Dawn Altnam

Dawn Altnam is a regular contributor to The HRIS World, be sure to see her other articles listed just below.
Dawn lives & works in the midwest and loves following the business tech world.
After furthering her education, she now spends her time researching her interests and blogging her discoveries quite often.
You can reach Dawn via email, social media or by leaving a comment below…

Facebook Twitter Google+   

More articles by Dawn Altnam...
pixelstats trackingpixel
Short URL for this post (or page) is : http://bit.ly/N2e1UV
Send to Kindle

Related Posts:

  • No Related Posts

comments

comments

Comments

To leave comments, you will need to sign in or register with facebook. To have your comments posted to your own facebook wall, be sure to click the 'Post to Profile' box. To minimize spam, all comments require admin approval before they will be displayed.

If you sign in or register with The HRIS World, please see our privacy policy to see how we maintain all your information in confidence.

Benefits for Registering with The HRIS World

Using our registration option will allow you to receive our latest articles via email (you can opt out at any time) -- either allposts or posts for specific blogs.

Click Here to register.

5 Common Hiring Mistakes
Read more about these mistakes, and how to avoid them in this whitepaper.

Click Here to sponsor our newsletter

Feeds

Podcasts - all articles

Kindle - all blogs

RSS feeds - by blog

Sigma Projeto Brasil

The HRIS Career World blog

The HRIS Career World Jobs - USA
(via our job board)

The HRIS Career World YouTube

The HRIS World global (all blogs)

The HRIS World blog

The HRIS World Research Network blog

The HRIS World Store

The HRIS World YouTube
sitemap | about us | contact us | feeds | privacy | search
guest post guidelines
Unless otherwise noted, all photo credits are Fotolia.com

Some More Information for You...

For the latest video briefs, check out any of our 50+ playlists on our YouTube channel...

ADP : Brasil IT : Brasil IT-BPO : Ceridian : Cloud Computing : Epicor : HR Tech Europe : HR Technology Conference: IHRIM : Insight UK : Intel : Kenexa : Kronos : Mobile News : OpenText : Oracle : PeopleSoft : SAGE : SAP : SHRM : Success Magazine : Taleo : TechnoFunc : TowersWatson

You will also find our Microsoft and Microsoft Office 2010 YouTube video playlists helpful with your learning...

Microsoft : Microsoft Office : 365 : Access : Excel : Lync : OneNote : Outlook : PowerPoint : Web Apps : Word : Microsoft Windows phone : Publisher : Project : SharePoint Workspace : Visio

AND NOW - Previews to Microsoft Office 2013 and Microsoft Office 2013 Applications!!!

Microsoft : Microsoft Office : Access : Excel : OneNote : Outlook : PowerPoint : Web Apps : Word : Microsoft Windows phone : Publisher : Project : SharePoint : Visio
View Our Channel NOW!
Wanted! Professionals Seeking $80,000 to $500,000+
Transcender leads to Certification Success
incoming
Google Analytics Alternative

Are you a SMB owner? a SMB CXO? Are you a SMB HRIS Software Vendor? Are you contemplating a HRIS Software system?

 
This book will save you headaches, pain -- and money!

This book will save you headaches, pain -- and money!

 

Click the Image Now to read more about this one-of-a-kind resource!

"With 20 years of HRIS implementation experience, I wish I had this book with me every time!"

-- Garrett O'Brien, The HRIS World editor

 

CompareHRIS.com has collected more than 90,000 data points and insights from nearly 1800 HR Technology and HR decision-makers during their needs assessment, software review, and purchase of SMB HRIS Software.

 

During this process, they reveal the connection between company size and what qualified buyers of HR technology feel is most important.

 

This Valuable Resource is available for a limited time at $395 This price expires on 15-Jun-2013!

Never see this message again.