Why Choose SharePoint Online? A Comparative Analysis of SharePoint Versions

1. Why Choose SharePoint Online? A Comparative Analysis of SharePoint Versions

2. A widespread discussion about SharePoint On-premises vs. Online remains a significant point of contention among organizations with an existing SharePoint-based intranet and those seeking to have one. Indeed, the increasing demand for a centralized, secure, and user-friendly digital platform to efficiently communicate, organizational tasks has become imperative in the current competitive landscape. With the evolving versions of SharePoint, it becomes challenging to decide on an ideal solution that fits best with the organization's size, requirements, preferences, and objectives. Here are some core factors that can be decisive when choosing an optimal platform for your company intranet. collaborate, and perform

3. 1.Scalability : The scalability for an intranet is its ability to grow, perform, and adapt to requirements. The increase in user base, departments, or data volume within the organization is inevitable but healthy for a growing business. When comparing the two SharePoint versions for scalability, the On-premises infrastructure is prone to manual adjustments or requires the purchase of additional configurations, and more. On the other hand, the online version, being a cloud-based solution, offers seamless accessibility and allows organizations to scale their usage according to actual requirements. changing organizational hardware, server

4. 2. Security and Compliance : The topmost priority is Securing the organization's strategic resources like financial records, employee data, documents, ongoing projects, and many more. The SharePoint On-premise customizations and allow users to implement tailored security measures, but the infrastructure safe falls on them. Whereas SharePoint Online, controlled directly by Microsoft, comes with automatic updates and security patches, identification and access management, advanced threat protection, and two-factor authentication, making it an obvious choice for organizations. versions offer greater onus of keeping the

5. 3. Upgrades and Maintenance : Regular upgrades and maintenance often include critical elements like security patches, bug fixes, performance optimization, etc., necessary to create an efficient, productive, and secure workplace environment. The On- premise version is best for organizations with data residency and sovereignty concerns coupled with adequate expertise to handle manual planning and execution of updates. However, the Online version emerges as a more resource- efficient solution with automatic updates managed by Microsoft, reducing the IT workload while maintaining consistency across the environment.

6. 4. Cost : Cost can be a crucial factor for many organizations with budgetary constraints. Indeed, having an easily scalable digital solution with lesser maintenance and operational costs ensures that the organization's financial expenses are aligned with its idea of sustained success. SharePoint Online, in this case, proves better as the cloud- based setup eliminates the need to invest a substantial amount in maintaining physical infrastructure. Also, it operates on a subscription-based model that charges organizations exclusively for the chosen application and user base.

7. Conclusion : To summarize, SharePoint On-premise, with its exceptional customization capabilities, goes well for organizations operating in a highly controlled environment with strict regulatory compliance and having an in-house team of IT experts to manage their intranet ecosystem. Meanwhile, the Online version emerges as a resource-efficient, secure, cost-effective, and scalable solution for organizations of different sizes and domains. Both SharePoint versions come with their respective advantages and disadvantages. And the choice must solely be based on the requirements and preferences of the organization.