Having finally decided that VoIP is good for the business, you heave a sigh of relief at not having to think any further on the issue, but you’re mistaken, for the real problem arises only after voting for VoIP. Surprised? Don’t be, as there are many of your kind roaming about scratching their heads figuring out which is better – a business phone system that‘s on-premise, or one hosted in the cloud?
Obviously, what’s sauce for the goose isn’t for the gander; so what’s good for one SMB needn’t necessarily be right for another. Therein lies the problem then; choosing between the two. Fret not, for Katerina Roemer, a marketing specialist at Fonality (News - Alert), has some tips that could help.
To know which one is a better option for you, you need to know the difference between an on-premise solution and a cloud-based one.
Simply put, with an on-premise solution, the servers and other hardware are all located at the business site, while a cloud-based solution puts all its equipment far away from prying eyes – it could just be in the middle of nowhere.
That brings us to the crux of the problem. With on-site equipment and support infrastructure, Roemer points out that companies feel they’re in greater control and can customize their systems according to their needs. Moreover, data is safer and more secure. That’s good news, but on the flip side, such companies have to constantly invest in equipment and maintenance, meaning more staff.
In contrast, with cloud-based solutions, there are no maintenance or hardware headaches, companies spend less on maintenance and can access the office from anywhere, anytime. Sounds good? Here’s the dampener: they require high-bandwidth connections at all times and security could be an issue.
Ultimately it boils down to what the company wants and what it is willing to pay for. For those businesses that want to have greater granular control and place a greater onus on security, on-premise systems are better. However, if convenience and reducing cost is more important, then cloud-based solutions would be better. Roemer suggests that companies seriously weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
The moral? Learn to look and understand what you’re actually getting into before you leap into an on-premise or cloud-based solution.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson