Cloud migration has been a hot topic lately, and for good reason. Hybrid and remote work models are around for good, and cloud technologies provide the flexibility needed to support work-from-anywhere teams. But the benefits of off-premise technology go far beyond hybrid work support. In this blog, we’ll explore three ways cloud technologies outperform on-premise alternatives – and how you can find the right off-premise technology to grow your business.
Both cloud and on-premise solutions allow your employees to access mission-critical data and applications, but that’s where their similarities end. While there are several differences to consider when deciding which option is best for your business, many organizations that upgrade to cloud technologies enjoy lower costs, faster deployment, and improved scalability.
On-premise solutions for essential systems like data storage and communications are often expensive to install and maintain. Off-premise technology is deployed in the cloud and doesn’t require specialized hardware, which reduces the upfront investment in many cases. Additionally, ongoing maintenance costs are lower since cloud service providers assume responsibility for keeping your systems up-to-date and running smoothly.
Take data centers, for example. Building an on-premise data center usually requires a hefty investment since the organization is responsible for everything from server and hardware installation to ongoing power and maintenance costs. On-premise data centers also often lack redundancy, which can lead to costly losses if a server fails.
Moving your data center off premises to a colocation service provider allows businesses to house servers and computing hardware in a state-of-the-art data center facility. Colocation services can help companies save money by spreading cooling and electricity costs across multiple data center customers and providing redundant connections to ensure network uptime.
Deploying on-premise technologies can be a lengthy process, often requiring specialized hardware and professional installation. Cloud technologies take less time to deploy and are often installed and set up by the cloud service provider, saving businesses from putting in-house resources toward implementation.
Contact centers are a great example of this. Traditional on-premise call centers can take anywhere from seven to 24 months to deploy,1 requiring hardware and software installation and professional developers to customize systems as needed. Businesses can deploy contact center as a service (CCaaS) platforms in significantly less time. All a business needs to implement an omni- or multi-channel contact center is an internet connection, workstations, and headsets.
Legacy voice systems that rely on SIP, PRIs, or analog are less flexible than cloud-based systems, and they require complex technology in order to enable hybrid work environments or allow mobility for traveling employees. Businesses with legacy systems that need disaster recovery generally have to build it into their topology, which means adding an on-prem server to another office, data center or their cloud – which can create even more complications compared to a Cloud PBX which has national or global infrastructure already built and out of the box.
Because unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solutions are cloud-based, businesses have the ability to easily enable remote work and road warrior mobility – and communications stay online in the event of a disruption on-site.
Moving your technology off premises can be challenging if you’re unsure where to start. Without a trusted advisor, you may wind up overpaying for unnecessary features or investing in solutions that don’t meet your needs.
CommQuotes has helped thousands of clients find right-fit technology solutions with vendor-agnostic guidance. If you’re ready to move your technology off premises, we’re sharing a free resource to help you get started. Download this white paper today to learn more about how moving to the cloud can help you grow your business and which off-premise technology solutions you need to stay ahead of the digital curve. Get in touch with us today to talk about your unique needs.
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