In today’s world of education, there are many factors that a school or any educational system should consider in order to decide whether a cloud infrastructure is the right fit. Conversely, there are many schools that are unable to make the leap into the cloud, instead of relying on their tried-and-true legacy and On-Premise application and software for school management.
On-Premise vs. cloud
If you are looking at your organization’s workflow, then you probably come across enterprise resource planning (ERP) terms in your close circles. Certainly, always there is a bombarding between on-site ERP and cloud ERP solutions when it comes to selection. ERP is an automated solution that connects all the departments of an organization. It helps in improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and thereby increasing profits.
The basic difference between On-Premise and cloud-based ERP is in how the software is deployed and accessed. On-Premise ERP software is installed on computers and servers that are owned, or leased, by the organization. Cloud-based ERP is deployed on the cloud (servers are owned or leased by the vendor) and accessed through a web browser. Cloud-based ERP systems are usually SaaS (software as a service) products where the service includes software and the infrastructure it runs on.
On-Premise software
Whether a school places its applications in the cloud or whether it decides to keep them on-premise, data security will always be paramount. But for those educational institutions in highly regulated education industries, the decision might already be made for them as to whether to house their applications on-premise. And knowing your data is located within in-house servers and IT infrastructure might also provide more peace of mind anyways.
On-Premise software requires a license or a copy of the software to use it. Because the software is licensed and the entire software resides within a school’s premises, there is generally greater protection than with a cloud computing infrastructure. So, if a school needs all this extra security, why would it dip its proverbial toes into the cloud?
The downside of On-Premise environments is that cost associated with managing and maintaining all the solution entails can run exponentially higher than a cloud computing environment. An On-Premise setup requires in-house server hardware, software licenses, integration capabilities, and IT employees on hand to support and manage potential issues that may arise. This doesn’t even factor in the amount of maintenance that a school is responsible for when something breaks or doesn’t work.
Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing differs from On-Premise software in one critical way. A school hosts everything in-house in an On-Premise environment, while in a cloud environment, a third-party provider hosts all that of you. This allows schools to pay on an as-needed basis and effectively scale up or down depending on overall usage, user requirements, and growth of the organization.
A cloud-based server utilizes virtual technology to host applications offsite. There are no capital expenses, data can be backed up regularly, and organizations only have to pay for resources they use. For those organizations that plan aggressive expansion on a global basis, the cloud has even greater appeal because it allows you to connect with parents, guardians, and faculties anywhere with minimal effort.
Additionally, cloud computing features nearly instant provisioning because everything is already configured. Thus, any new software that is integrated into your environment is ready to use immediately once an organization has subscribed. With instant provisioning, any time spent on installation and configuration is eliminated and users are able to access the application right away.
Key differences between On-Premise and cloud
#1. Deployment:
On-Premise: With On-Premise software, the organization remains responsible for maintaining the solution and related processes. The deployment is done in-house using the organization’s infrastructure.
Cloud: In a hosted cloud, the service provider maintenance the systems on their server, accessible by the enterprise at any given time-related processes taken care of by the host-cloud service provider.
#2. Control:
On-Premise: In an On-Premise environment, enterprises enjoy complete control over their systems and maintain 100 percent privacy. There are two reasons why most big organizations choose to stay away from the cloud.
Cloud: In a cloud computing environment, even though the data and encryption keys are shared with the third-party provider, there is shared ownership and accessibility remains an issue if there is to be any downtime.
#3. Security:
On-premise: Security is an essential requirement of any organization when it comes to the financial account, customer, and employee details. Even though traditional on-premise seems more secure as it is in-house, there are multiple measures that need to be taken to fully maintain the security of the data.
Cloud: With cloud ERP systems there are very few chances of any hardware, software, or infrastructure malfunction that can hinder the entire operation and result in hefty losses. The ERP vendor is more likely to have multiple disasters and redundancy protocols for data security. For both platforms, reliable network connectivity plays a very important role when it comes to remote areas.
#4. Compliance:
On-Premise: There are regulatory controls that most organizations need to abide by. To meet the regulations, it is imperative that organizations remain compliant and have their data in place. This can be easily done if all the data is maintained in-house.
Cloud: When opting for a cloud computing model, organizations need to ensure that the service provider is meeting the regulatory mandates within their specific industry. It is important that the data of customers, employees, and partners are secure, whereby ensuring privacy.
#5. Cost Comparison:
On-Premise: A system from the ground up requires a lot of effort and comes at a hefty cost. Not just the initial investment, along with the purchase of additional infrastructure and processes but also, the maintenance and operating costs that the organization will have to incur on an ongoing basis. On-premise, even though costs more initially but when the investment is spread across the entire lifecycle of the system, it may just amount to the same as Cloud computing.
Cloud: Comparatively, a cloud service is a lot more cost-effective, especially for those that are small in size. The setting up and run time is cheaper and faster. Organizations have to pay a nominal subscription fee, whereby the updates and maintenance by the cloud host. Cloud computing is cheaper when it comes to setting up, running, maintenance, and overall support costs.
#6. Mobility:
On-Premise: On-premise ERP systems can be accessed remotely but often requires third-party support to access the solution and a mobile device. This increases the risk of security and communication failures. Requiring several security measures need to be in place if different users to access files on personal devices.
Cloud: With cloud systems, you need to have an internet connection to access your data using a mobile device. Mobility and flexibility thereof are one of the strongest features of this solution. This enables users to work from anywhere at any time, resulting in higher rates of engagement.
Why you should choose CAMPUSLIVE?
CAMPUSLIVE is one of the most advanced and user-friendly School ERP Software for managing various school activities. This School ERP system provides the solution of all requirements of Admission Counsellor in streamlining the complete admission process. With this School ERP, One can generate circulars and SMS instantly and have a multilingual option to make the communication effective for parents from different regions. The software has multiple modules which are user-friendly and easily accessible. These modules include administration, HR management, finance management, student management, academics management, inventory management, library management, health monitoring, front office management, activities/ECA, transport management, parent portal, examination management, fee management, and a lot more.
In this digital era, from banking to education most things have gone online. Thus how could be the management of any organization be deprived of integration of smart technologies. With school, there come several administrative tasks, which could be carried effectively and in a hassle-free manner using reliable School ERP Software. Apart from this, the school having robust ERP software could focus on the other core for good outputs. It not only ensures a smooth process for online admission, fee payment, sending a communication to the respective school authorities, and other school processes. But also cut down the pen-paper work and make the tasks less time-consuming. Integrating smart technology that makes the school system efficient by providing mobile applications for parents and staff also helps to stand out in the education domain for sure. Our ERP software is the one-stop solution for hassle-free and secure school management. There are many benefits that come along with implementing the cloud-based school ERP software in school.