What does running an on-prem server really cost versus the same workload in the cloud?
Hardware is the smallest part. Power, cooling, replacement parts, OS licenses, management hours and uptime concerns together often exceed a comparable cloud VM.
Try this first
- 1Beyond purchase, count: 24/7 power, cooling, UPS, replacement parts and an OS plus any SQL or CAL licenses.
- 2Include management hours for patches, monitoring and troubleshooting, even if your own IT person does it 'on the side'.
- 3On hardware failure you take downtime or you build redundancy, both add cost in time or money.
- 4Compare that to a cloud VM with similar specs over 5 years including backup and management, then you see the real comparison.
When to bring us in
If you want an honest comparison for your specific workload, we can run it for you.
See also
- What does Managed IT actually cost for a 10-person SMBNo fixed number, but an honest breakdown. A full package for ten people is not 50 euros a month and not 5000 either.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard versus Premium, what is extraThe price jump is real but Premium does not add Word features. It adds security and device management.
- Microsoft announces another price hike, what do I doSince NCE Microsoft adjusts pricing structurally. Without action you renew at the new price for a full year.
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