There’s no denying it, data of every shape and size is making its way to the cloud. According to ComputerWorld’s Tech Forecast 2017, 79% of IT managers surveyed have a cloud project underway or planned, and that number is only growing. We are the first to sing the cloud’s praises, and there are more than a few reasons to do so, but we know that for some corporations, sending all of your data to the cloud simply does not make sense. If you are stuck figuring out where your data should be, we’ve pulled together the top reasons companies require, at least in part, an on-premise database solution.

Regulations and/or compliance requirements that need to be met.

Industry regulations and compliance issues such as PCI (Payment Card Industry) and HIPAA can complicate moving most or all of your data to the cloud. Even your geographic location can place restrictions on how you share and store your data.

These kinds of restrictions are particularly top of mind following recent high-profile breaches in security, Equifax being the most recent and far-reaching. While security in the cloud is better than ever, if you are dealing with highly-sensitive, regulated data, you may be better off sticking with on-premise for the time being.

Your data requires more hands-on control than the cloud will allow.

While the cloud in no way limits your access to your data, you do hand off some control of where it actually resides once it goes to the cloud and for some companies that’s a scary prospect. This handing over of control can pop up in other areas too, namely maintenance. It’s true, the cloud allows more flexibility than ever, but you may find yourself at the mercy of the maintenance schedule of your cloud provider.

Insider Tip: If you have some flexibility in this area, a hybrid approach to database management may be right for you. This allows you to keep the data you need on-premise right where it is, while migrating your more flexible data to the cloud. The hybrid approach can save you time, money, and the headache of managing all of your data on-premise.

You have already invested in on-site hardware.

As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke… If you have invested in an on-premise database solution and your existing architecture is still meeting your data needs, the thought of spending additional money to migrate your data to the cloud is likely not appealing.

However, unless you’re facing the restrictions of the previous two points, when the time comes to upgrade, a move to the cloud is likely your best move. The expense of the ongoing upkeep of on-site hardware typically far exceeds the cost of moving your data to the cloud; not to mention the struggle and cost of finding IT team members that have the necessary skills to keep such systems up and running.

Whether you’re stuck onsite or making your way to the cloud, it can be a challenge to find the right amount of coverage and expertise for your company’s valuable data. The fact is with the rapid rate of change in technology, it’s a struggle for any business to keep up on the skills front. For many organizations this is why partnering with a managed service provider is the best solution. An MSP can help you navigate which path to the cloud, and which workloads make sense, if any is right for you while providing you the value of an entire team of database experts at less than the cost of a full-time employee.

You can learn more about this swiftly shifting tech landscape and how it’s impacting companies database strategies in this complimentary eBook.

Or if you're interested in learning more about the hybrid approach to data management, download this complimentary eBook below.