There are two common ways an IETM/IETP solution can be deployed, on-premise and cloud.
Cloud-based solutions following the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, are hosted on the vendor’s server and accessible for the end-users online. Generally, cloud software can be deployed quickly via the internet without the procurement of any physical equipment or IT-related assets.
One of the biggest benefits of going with cloud based solutions is its affordability. All costs and efforts regarding the purchase and maintenance of data systems are taken care of by your service provider. Your organization saves by only paying a recurring fixed amount monthly/yearly for the services being utilized and subscribed to.
Other than saving money, at least in the short-term, there are many efficiency benefits regarding cloud-based deployment. In most cases, additional licenses/subscriptions for functionalities and new users may be added or removed relatively easily (and all at the same time) to accommodate your organizational requirements. This can be extremely beneficial when there exist thousands of users using thousands of different devices.
While vendors are also responsible for all costs regarding storage and backup of data in the cloud, modern cloud computing is regarded as extremely secure. In fact, according to Oracle Cloud Security, the biggest cloud computing benefit considered by most organizations is security. While there are several reasons why this is true, the growing demands for SaaS in the past decade have pushed cloud engineering to progressively become more secure, to accommodate the customer’s requirements (and industry regulations) for security in the public network. For that reason, cybersecurity has also been one of the most massively invested technologies of the past decade.
There is no on-device installation needed for web-based solutions and access to the product is almost instant, requiring only the user’s credentials. Desktop users can securely access the product on their own devices and no download is required. Security and performance patches can be deployed quickly to all devices where the product is installed.
Cloud deployment of enterprise software products has long evolved to become highly efficient and fast. It is also the most cost-effective way to deploy software solutions while staying compliant with security standards and regulations. For many industries, the sheer benefits of implementing cloud solutions leave few reasons to opt for any other options.
However, the aviation industry is a notable exception where organizations are maintaining state-of-the-art, highly secured IT data systems and hardened private cloud infrastructures. This essentially indicates facilities are available for local installation and some organizations want to host the software solution in their internal private network.
Furthermore, there are also challenges unique to aviation such as strict data security compliance and operational regulations. Vendors, particularly those who engage with the military sector, may be required to keep data secure within a locally hosted private cloud/data system and independent from the public internet to meet highly specific industry compliance standards.
Local installation is not necessarily more stable, but it entirely depends on the ability of the host organization to manage the local data architecture and locally installed solutions. Nevertheless, this maintenance of local, private data systems is needed to satisfy certain, unconventional industry requirements that third-party cloud providers cannot quite deliver.
For those reasons, there are IETM/IETP developers who continue to offer on-premise installation or specifically may have this architecture as an implementation requirement by the organizations being served.
On-premise deployment remains a necessary element to provide a complex functional product within a strictly regulated domain of operation.
By relying on your infrastructure, you gain the total control needed to fulfill any obligation regarding the protection and manipulation of data. Due to the absence of a public network connection, your organization cannot lose access to data to any external mishaps outside of your control, this includes possible internet outages or server failures on the vendor’s side or cyberattacks. As long as the correct facility and expertise are provided, private networks can be more secure and usually faster for internal data transference.
So, what is the biggest downside? An elevated level of control simply demands an elevated level of responsibility. The physical engagement and necessity of an internal team dedicated to infrastructure maintenance suggest a much larger upfront cost. Your organization will be responsible for the added overheads regarding the maintenance of the local physical architecture of your system. Adding/removing or upgrading products may rarely be as seamless as in the scenario of a web-hosted solution due to the massive numbers of devices where the solution is installed. And due to the greater demands of on-premise installation, a customer likely needs to engage in a more comprehensive service level agreement (SLA) to ensure functional reliability when on-premise equipment becomes an issue.
Though the cost is higher, with effective management, on-premise deployment is a great option for organizations operating within specific security and reliability parameters. However, with the influence of the aviation disruption due to the COVID pandemic, many organizations within the supply chain may have to reconsider on-premises installation and explore cloud solutions where fewer resources are required.
While the process of cloud development is quite simple and self-explanatory, on-premise deployment – on the other hand, often comes with multiple layers of challenges that must be meticulously tackled by IT experts. Whether the deployment is cloud-based or on-premise, it is crucial to vet vendors not only for the development capability concerning the product but also for the quality/expertise of the accompanying services they provide. Needless to say, a crystal-clear transparent, reasonable price offer and a bespoke service package are also important factors of consideration for achieving the most cost-effective implementation.
Is your organization looking for an IETM/IETP solution, but worried about the deployment options?
At SYNAXIOM, we are happy to help you assess your circumstances. Our viewer-centric suite of applications NIVOMAX can be configured and customized toward deep integration with any highly-complex, mission-critical system. With a wealth of experience working with high-profile enterprise customers including one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, SYNAXIOM can be trusted with both cloud and on-premises deployment tailored to your unique requirements.