Sooner or later, most organizations reach a point where they must decide whether to invest in creating their own in-house IT department, or invest in a cloud-based IT platform. As with any other set of choices, there are advantages and disadvantages to both options.
In-House Platform
Advantages – Creating an in-house IT department means a company’s technology assets stay within their complete control. Some companies view this as an advantage and feel comfortable selecting the people with just the right expertise to select the appropriate hardware and software, maintain and upgrade it as necessary, and most importantly, keep corporate data secure. There is also the advantage that if for some reason a company’s internet connection goes down, employees are still able to perform most of their duties, either independently or using the corporate intranet.
Disadvantages – Some organizations may not feel they have the know-how to select the right technology personnel. Handing over such tremendous responsibility, typically to one or two individuals, can be disconcerting for those whose expertise is within their own industry. In addition to paying a significant salary or two for professional IT staff, companies with in-house systems must buy and routinely upgrade both their software and hardware equipment, and they must trust that their IT staff is experienced enough to address all security concerns.
Cloud-Based Platform
Advantages – The only thing an employee needs to access a cloud-based platform is an internet connection and a smart device or PC. Companies who need the flexibility that on-the-go computing offers, will find it in a cloud-based platform. For those uncomfortable with the idea of selecting their own IT staff, simply hiring an IT company that provides cloud-based computing is a relief. While cloud-based systems will have maintenance fees, the overall IT costs should be lower since organizations won’t have to maintain an entire IT department that includes staff salaries, hardware, and software.
Disadvantages – If a company decides to make use of a public cloud platform, there could be concerns about data safety. Sharing space and resources with other organizations potentially opens the door for security issues. It is possible to use a private cloud instead however, thus reducing the likelihood of a security breach. Another disadvantage is that if a company’s internet connection goes down, so essentially does a cloud-based platform. Employees might be able to perform a few independent functions, but without internet access their ability to work and produce is almost non-existent.
If you’d like to know more about which system is the best match for your needs, please contact us.
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