On-premise CMS platform pros & cons

Despite the enormous popularity of SaaS solutions, on-premise software still commands an enormous share of the CMS pie.

On-premise CMS pros

Here are some of the pros of on-premise CMS platforms:

1. More control

You decide the infrastructure and environment to install the CMS on. This gives you more control over the CMS.

2. Customization

If you’re using an open-source CMS, you can customize the solution to fit your exact requirements. Even closed-source CMS will give you considerable room for customization, especially when it comes to integrations.

On-premise CMS cons

Here are some of the cons of on-premise CMS platforms:

1. Maintenance, installation, and upkeep

Your IT team will be responsible for supporting the CMS. This can radically increase deployment time, add to upfront costs and might even require hiring additional personnel.

2. Scalability

Unlike a SaaS solution, the scalability of an on-premise CMS depends entirely on the underlying infrastructure. This can impact scalability, especially if you don’t take advantage of the cloud.

3. High upfront costs

Besides the license fee, you’ll also have to pay for infrastructure and IT to install the CMS.

4. Long deployment time

Between the installation and customization, you might end up spending weeks and even months to deploy the CMS.

In a nutshell, a SaaS solution represents the future. It is cheaper upfront, highly scalable, and gives you the flexibility to switch to another provider. On-premise solutions might have been viable 10 years ago, but the security, maintenance and scalability issues are a big red mark today. The continuous innovation ensures that your investment is never outdated.