What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing provides on-demand computing resources – including servers, storage, databases, applications and more – that can be accessed via the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Cloud computing services, or public clouds, are managed by third-party providers and made available to many clients. Public cloud services offer high availability and allow organizations to rapidly provision resources, scaling up or down quickly as business needs require.

What is on-premises infrastructure?

On-premises infrastructure, or private clouds, are cloud computing environments that are reserved for use by one organization. On-premises infrastructure provides the same type of elastic, virtualized services as public clouds, but also offers greater control and visibility into infrastructure. On-premises infrastructure resides within a company’s data center, requiring more involvement and management from IT teams.

What are the benefits of on-premises vs. cloud computing?

Public cloud computing services offer nearly unlimited scalability, lower costs and access to next-generation technologies like AI/ML, serverless computing, blockchain and real-time analytics. Private cloud computing provides tighter security, stronger data governance, easier management of data locality issues and lower latency for high-performance workloads.

What is hybrid cloud?

A hybrid cloud involves both on-premises and cloud infrastructure, as well as technology that connects various cloud resources and simplifies management and orchestration of workloads in the cloud.

What are the main factors to consider when choosing between on-premises and cloud solutions?

When deciding between on-premises and cloud solutions, organizations should consider factors such as scalability, cost, security, control, compliance requirements, and access to next-generation technologies. The choice will depend on the specific needs and goals of the business.

How does a hybrid cloud solution combine the benefits of on-premises and cloud computing?

A hybrid cloud solution integrates both on-premises and cloud infrastructure, allowing organizations to leverage the control and security of on-premises solutions with the scalability and flexibility of cloud computing. This approach provides a unified management experience and enables seamless workload mobility between environments.

Can I switch between on-premises and cloud infrastructure as my business needs change?

Yes, many organizations adopt a flexible approach that allows them to move workloads between on-premises and cloud infrastructure as business requirements and cloud economics dictate. Solutions like Dell Technologies APEX can facilitate this transition, providing consistent operational experiences across different environments.

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On-premises vs. cloud

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On-Premise vs. Cloud

The Benefits of On-Premises vs. Cloud Computing

As IT teams consider the best resources for deploying cloud workloads, the choice often comes down to on-premises vs. cloud infrastructure via public cloud services. Public cloud resources offer extraordinary scalability and access to next-generation technologies. Private cloud or on-premises infrastructure provides more control, security and visibility.

As cloud solutions have proliferated, enterprises have adopted both on premise and cloud infrastructure to create a multicloud architecture. Yet deploying multiple public clouds as well as on-premises technology can create a chaotic and complex management experience that adds cost, risk and administrative burden to the task of running workloads on cloud resources.

Dell APEX can help by bringing together the best aspects of on-premises and cloud computing. With a suite of solutions for providing a consistent operational experience to hybrid cloud environments, Dell APEX enable enterprises to move applications and data easily between public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises resources, outing an end to the tradeoffs over on-premises vs. cloud solutions.

As IT teams weigh the advantages of on-premises vs. cloud infrastructure, a thrid option emerges: hybrid cloud infrastructure. Hybrid cloud combines both on-premises and cloud infrastructure while incorporating technology that connects all cloud resources. It also provides a unified set of tools that streamline workload management across all public, private and edge cloud computing environments. That’s where Dell APEX can be of assistance.

Understanding the On-Premises and Cloud Operating Models

In the debate between on-premises vs. cloud operating models, it's essential to recognize that these are not binary choices. Many organizations find value in a spectrum that includes various options, each with its unique characteristics and benefits.

On-premises solutions:

Complete control over physical hardware and software.
Enhanced security and compliance capabilities.
Potentially higher upfront costs and maintenance responsibilities.

Private cloud solutions:

Dedicated resources for a single organization.
Greater control and security than public cloud.
Flexibility in customization and scalability.

Public cloud solutions:

Shared resources with pay-as-you-go pricing.
Access to next-generation technologies like AI/ML.
Elastic scalability and lower upfront costs.

Hybrid cloud solutions:

Integration of on-premises and cloud infrastructure.
Unified management experience.
Seamless workload mobility between environments.

Solutions For a Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure

Dell APEX utilizes the Dell Technologies’ expertise to simplify deployment and management of hybrid cloud platforms. As a result, Dell can work with customers to easily move on-premises workloads to any public, private, or hybrid cloud environments business requirements and cloud economics dictate.

Benefits of Dell APEX

Dell APEX incorporates all the benefits of on-premises vs. cloud infrastructure, enabling organizations to:

Scale on demand to extend IT environments and deliver resources as needed without adding additional complexity.
Simplify management with a common set of tools and consistent infrastructure that eliminates silos, drives efficiency and improves agility.
Improve workload mobility between on-premises and cloud infrastructure, using familiar tools and models that reduce errors and create efficiencies for administrators.
Minimize risk by enabling administrators to use a single operational hub for managing cloud architecture.
Increase security by deploying a single security framework across all public and private clouds.
Speed time-to-market with the latest VMware software and Kubernetes distribution.
Reduce TCO with flexible hybrid pricing models that allow IT teams to choose the optimal mix of resources and reap the benefits of on-premises vs. cloud infrastructure for any workload.

Expertise for Deployment, Support and More

As IT teams deploy a hybrid cloud infrastructure, Dell Technologies Services provide industry experts who can offer strategic guidance and practical capabilities to accelerate time to value. Dell Technologies Services include:

Consulting services that leverage prescriptive approaches and proven methodologies to plan and execute IT, workforce and application transformation.
Deployment services that streamline complexity, accelerate adoption and ROI, and bring new IT investments online quickly as possible.
Support services delivered by hybrid cloud experts and an AI engine that proactively detects and prevents issues before they impact performance.
Managed services that reduce the cost, complexity and risk of managing a hybrid cloud and enable IT teams to focus on more strategic priorities for digital innovation and transformation.
Education services that help build IT skills required to manage hybrid cloud solutions and lead and execute transformational strategy to drive competitive advantage.