Cloud vs On Premises: is owning the data really safer?

Among the skeptics of Cloud solutions, there is a widespread belief that physically owning data, through an On Premises service, is much safer. But are risks really reduced by saving information on company hardware and not on third-party servers? Are you always able to control who has access to this data? In this TechStory we are going to dispel six myths about the increased security of On Premises solutions.

The growing fear of having their data hacked is leading many companies to invest in the Cloud. In Italy, for example, researchs show that within 4 years the companies that had a solution in the Cloud went from 22% to 60%. A choice often pushed by the spread of the SaaS business model in many sectors.

Despite this, for some, physically owning the data appears to be the safest solution. A false perception of security, given by the idea of ​​having control and possession of data, which pushes many companies to continue to prefer On Prem solutions over those in the Cloud.

False Myths About On Premises Security

Let’s dispel some false myths about On Premises security, listing some possible risks of such a solution.

An On Premises solution is more secure than a Cloud solution because you have sovereignty over the data but …

1. How often is information saved on different hardware media backed up?
2. Does this periodic saving take place automatically or do you need to allocate resources and schedule time for it to be done?
3. How can we be sure that these copies of data, made on external media accessible to all, are not lost, copied by unauthorized persons or saved incorrectly?
4. When the hardware is decommissioned, how can we be sure that the information inside them has been completely deleted and no longer accessible to third parties?
5. How easy will it be to move your entire database, if for example an operating system and on-premises software provider changes policy or the price of its service?
6. Can you always be sure that unwanted people, with non-administrator permissions, do not access your information?

The advantages of the Cloud

In addition to these false certainties, the advantages of the Cloud are also others.

There are different advantages, both for IT and for those who work in operations:

1. Cloud solutions are quick to implement;
2. The speed of implementation translates into a scalable solution;
3. The system is more robust, agile and relieves the IT of companies from the task of always keeping it safe and functional;
4. The system never becomes obsolete because system updates and new features are released periodically;
5. A Cloud solution has generally lower economic barriers to entry than an On Prem.

Cloud is the future also in manufacturing

For all these reasons, at TechMass we believe that the Cloud will also find more and more diffusion in solutions dedicated to Industry 4.0.

All the advantages listed above are also the reason that immediately made us choose to focus on a solution that today has become the most used MES in Cloud in Italy.