Before we delve deeper into the pros and cons , let  's first discuss  the difference between the SharePoint server and SharePoint online. As mentioned  before, the SharePoint server is an application with on- premise  licenses, which means that the SharePoint server application  is installed directly on the servers of your organization . This means that the SharePoint server is an internal network on the servers of the own organization . Unlike SharePoint online, where the application is deployed in the Cloud. Both forms of SharePoint have advantages and disadvantages that we will explain further in this blog with SharePoint services.


 

Benefits  of SharePoint Server  

There are a number of advantages of the SharePoint server compared to SharePoint online. We will discuss the most important ones below.

Migrating documents to the SharePoint server

Moving documents and content to the SharePoint server environment is a relatively simple task , provided that a physical server was already used . Moving from a physical server to a cloud storage such as SharePoint online  , on the other hand  , can take an enormous amount of time.  

 Store information securely

The advantage of the SharePoint server is that company and/or  privacy -sensitive  information can simply be stored on the SharePoint server because  it contains an internal network. Some companies cannot store sensitive information in the cloud for legal reasons.

Capacity

In contrast to SharePoint online, where the capacity limit is quite strict, you can  easily  add capacity to the SharePoint server if necessary. This can be an advantage for companies that are growing rapidly and want room for growth in the capacity for their servers.

What can I use Microsoft SharePoint for? Read more here!

Disadvantages  of SharePoint Server

Besides the fact that the SharePoint Server has advantages over SharePoint online, it also has significant disadvantages. All these advantages and disadvantages are of course related to your needs and company structure.

Costs

Compared to SharePoint online, the initial cost of the SharePoint server is something to consider. The SharePoint  on- premise environment often consists of several SharePoint servers, each of which requires the correct license. Of course, this also affects the total cost of all these servers. However, unlike SharePoint online, this is often a one-time cost item.

Because SharePoint online  is an application within Office 365, the costs are based on a fixed amount that  is included  in  the subscription. However, you should not underestimate the costs of SharePoint online, with the many subscription types, the costs can also rise to such an extent for SharePoint online, even to such an extent that a one-time investment in licenses is cheaper.

In addition, the administrative costs for the SharePoint servers are considerably higher, such as maintenance work for the Servers.

When  you buy used  SharePoint server licenses you can save smart on your license costs. We at Q-Advise have years of experience in the field of buying and selling used Microsoft licenses! We are therefore happy to advise you in the field of second-hand licenses!

Server maintenance and updates

Unlike SharePoint online, the SharePoint Server is not automatically  updated  by Microsoft. Updates are the responsibility of the user with on- premise  licenses. This means  your own It-Team must ensure that the SharePoint Servers remain up-to-date. As mentioned earlier, this also affects the costs. You will need more employees who are involved in the maintenance of the SharePoint server, which logically also increases the costs . Of course, this also means that you will have to free up much more time in your business operations for SharePoint-related activities. 

Which option suits my organization best?

It can be difficult to decide which option best fits your business model. It is important to look at the needs and wishes of your organization at the moment, but also certainly  at the wishes and needs in the long term, your so-called  roadmap .  

SharePoint online is cheaper  and easier to maintain, because maintenance and updates are performed entirely by Microsoft, in the cloud. This can be a reason for smaller companies, with less staff, to work with SharePoint online. However, is there a good chance that your business will grow in a significant amount of time? In all likelihood, this will go hand in hand with a greater need for capacity, in which case the SharePoint Server can be a solution. It is also important to consider what kind of information your organization works with. If your  organization  often comes into contact with sensitive information, a  cloud-based  solution such as SharePoint online is sometimes not even an option.

It is therefore important to look at the needs and capacity of your organization. We at Q-Advise can advise you on this, together we ensure that you do not unnecessarily spend a lot of money on licenses or subscription services that your company does not need.