On-Premise or Cloud: A Quick Decision Guide

The question of whether to run machines on-premise or in the cloud comes up frequently. The answer is rarely about price alone; it hinges on factors such as usage frequency, user base, data residency requirements, and the duration of need.

How often do you need the machine?

Consider the actual runtime frequency. If the machine is required daily, owning hardware often proves more cost-effective over the long term, ensuring constant availability. Conversely, if usage is sporadic, a cloud desktop allows you to rent capacity only when needed.

A machine used for a few days a month presents a different scenario from one running workloads every day. Focus on your current actual usage rather than speculative future capacity needs.

How many people use it?

For a single user, a cloud desktop offers a streamlined way to access necessary resources without the overhead of physical hardware setup. For teams, the consideration shifts to the number of users requiring access and whether simultaneous work is essential.

Teams with stable, heavy workloads may find good reason to own dedicated hardware. Those with variable workloads often prefer the inherent flexibility of cloud desktops.

Does the data need to stay on-site?

Evaluate where your data is permitted to reside. If company policy, regulatory compliance, customer mandates, or the nature of the work dictates that data must remain within your internal network, on-premise hardware is likely the superior choice.

If data processing can occur outside your physical facility, cloud desktops provide greater flexibility. This allows remote access to the machine without the need to house physical hardware on-site.

Do you have IT staff?

On-premise hardware requires ongoing maintenance, encompassing deployment, updates, troubleshooting, monitoring, and component replacement. If you already have IT staff managing your infrastructure, an on-premise solution integrates seamlessly into your existing setup.

If you lack dedicated IT personnel, consider who will assume these responsibilities. Owning hardware does not necessarily mean self-maintenance; a managed on-premise system can handle these tasks while keeping the hardware within your environment.

Do you need specific hardware?

Certain workloads have rigid requirements that are difficult to modify. You might require a specific CPU, GPU, RAM allocation, storage configuration, or physical form factor.

If these specific requirements are critical, custom on-premise hardware offers greater control. If you simply need a certain level of CPU or GPU capacity, a cloud desktop may suffice.

This relevance extends beyond GPU-centric workloads. Machine learning, rendering, and video production may demand specific GPUs, whereas builds, CI, development, and data workloads often depend more heavily on CPU, memory, or storage performance.

How long is the project?

Reflect on the expected duration of your needs. For projects lasting a few weeks or months, renting a cloud desktop is often practical, as you can cease usage once the project concludes.

For workloads anticipated to run for years, purchasing hardware becomes more viable. While the upfront cost is higher, the asset remains available for future endeavors.

A hybrid approach also exists. You can initiate a project in the cloud while defining the workload. Once requirements stabilise, you can reassess whether owning hardware is the more sensible option.

There's no universal answer

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The optimal choice depends on your specific workload, data constraints, and team structure. If you are unsure, speak with us; we handle both on-premise and cloud solutions.

Want to discuss your use case? Contact us and we'll help guide you in the right direction.