Microsoft Dynamics:

In the Cloud or
On-premise?

The Magnificent Seven: Helping you make the right choice

Introduction
There are many choices to make if youre thinking
about changing the delivery method for your
Microsoft Dynamics; move to the Cloud or stay
On-premise?
The fundamental difference between these options
is simple: Cloud ERP is provided as a service, with
your software, databases and associated data
delivered through an internet connection from the
Cloud. On-premise ERP solutions are installed on
your company systems and managed by your IT
department and/or third party contractors.
So how do you choose between Cloud and Onpremise? What is the best fit for your organisation?

Summary
This document aims to help you by explaining the
most important aspects of making the decision
between Cloud and On-premise.
SaaSplaza has identified the magnificent seven
critical factors for businesses to consider when it
comes to making the choice. These are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Uptime
Cost
Scalability / Flexibility
Accessibility
Lifecycle management
Support & Productivity
Security

Please note; this list is not in any order of priority!

Its important to say here that each business has
unique requirements, so the actual drivers for
choosing Cloud will be a combination of all, or some,
of these different factors.
We discuss each of the seven more broadly in this
document.

1. UPTIME
ERP is a mission critical business application that
should be Always On. Do you have in place a
guaranteed minimum level of system availability for
your on-premise applications, across all of your
offices from your internal and/or external support
teams?
Choose a provider with an SLA that
guarantees a minimum application
uptime level. When we say at the
application level, what do we
mean? To us, uptime is critical,
because it means the availability of
the applications your people need to be productive.
It doesnt just mean that the servers and the
infrastructure that your applications sit on are
working correctly. It means your people can do their
jobs on the business systems you provide for them.
"Server level uptime" only does not guarantee that
your system is available, only that the server is
functioning correctly.
That is a business critical difference in service level
and SaaSplaza financially back their uptime
guarantee.
2. COST
On-premise implementations often require large
upfront capital expenditure to purchase the software
licenses and to upgrade system hardware. In many
cases, your Dynamics team will need significant time
and resources to deploy the system, and to keep it
up and running.
There may also be increased cost in hiring and
training for your team and/or vendors so they
can manage the current system and cope with
future changes.

The costs of Microsoft Dynamics from the

Cloud are typically much lower because:

The Cloud has distinct economies of scale, which

create cost advantages at optimum quality levels
These cost advantages are passed directly to
customers, ensuring low, predictable pricing
Cloud systems have longer life spans compared
to on-premise
Cloud systems are more easily maintained,
updated and integrated with other systems;
ensuring productivity increases - not decreases as systems mature

Dynamics Cloud offers predictable, regular

monthly fees based on a price per user per
month, that comprise:

Deployment, management and maintenance to

ensure your system is operating at optimal levels
Maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and
availability of your data
A faster time to productivity for your system and
customisations that run smoothly

By working with us, you free existing IT resources to

apply their time to innovation and to improve how
the business operates not on maintenance! Cloud,
after any initial project or implementation costs, can
be treated as a predictable operational expense.
Cloud implementations have a
longer lifespan than on-premise
because hardware does not
become obsolete or incapable of
operating the software. Software is
also easier to update and manage
in the Cloud.
Licensing costs are also increasingly moving to a
subscription licensing model where you can control
your actual user numbers quickly and pay for them
on a monthly basis, rather than a large upfront
licensing purchase, if you choose.

Of course, for smaller businesses who do not have

full-time resources the Cloud is a no brainer. In
most cases, Cloud will be cheaper overall - and Cloud
offers you greater ability to drive better results your
company.
3. SCALABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY
With an On-premise installation, scaling users often
means investing in additional hardware. Cloud is
far more flexible and capable of scaling up - and
down - to your requirements. For example, if you
have increased seasonal demands,
reporting requirements, you
acquire companies, open or
amalgamate branch offices, change
your business structure or need
part-time workers.
On Public Cloud infrastructure, such as Microsoft
Azure, and on Private Cloud, you will benefit
from a Cloud Services Provider who can manage
your consumption costs by scaling your
resources down when their use is not required.
Also, when you need more performance, for
example in your accounting department at month
end reporting, ensure additional resources to
handle the increased demand are available for
only as long as it is needed.
4. ACCESSIBILITY
By default, Cloud means data anywhere, anytime,
so if you want to provide better access, flexibility,
productivity and mobility for your staff, across all
devices, then Cloud is for you.
5. LIFECYCLE MANAGEMENT
Microsoft Dynamics software is regularly updated
or upgraded. If youre on recent versions of
Dynamics ERP Cloud solutions, then in most cases
product rollups and new releases can be
seamlessly installed, with minimal interruption. So
youre always on the latest version of your ERP
system if thats what your organisation requires.

6. SUPPORT & PRODUCTIVITY

Cloud ERP, depending on the level and complexity
of customisations, can be on and working for your
people in a shorter time than most on-premise
ERP installations, particularly for branch offices or
geographically spread organisations. Every
implemetation is supported by SaaSplaza's Global
24/7 support operation.
7. SECURITY
For many organisations considering a move to the
Cloud, security is a prime concern. We talk a lot
about security, and rightly so. Confidentiality. Privacy.
Data integrity and availability. Trust.
Security is a pretty big word. For all
the hype about whether or not the
Cloud is secure, the fact is that the
Cloud is as secure as on-premise
solutions and in most cases,
more secure.
We look at Security on four fronts:
I. Cloud security through compliance processes
Why is the Cloud a safe choice? Part of it is due
to regulatory systems set up to ensure safety and
security, such as the SSAE-16 Type II and ISAE-3402
Type II certifications. Every year, we are
independently audited by PWC for these
certifications. Data security is a primary criterion for
these audits.
We complete both certifications because SSAE16 is
an attestation standard while ISAE 3402 is an
assurance standard. While the standards are
technically different, they both require full
disclosure and testing of systems and processes,
plus comprehensive written documentation.
II. Cloud security through redundancy
Another reason security for Cloud solutions beats
on-premise solutions is simply that a significant
benefit of Cloud platforms is data recovery and
redundancy. Put your data in the Cloud, and it is
backed up and stored securely, in several places.
However, if something happens to the
premise in on-premise, your data may no longer be

secure or available at all.

III. Cloud security through internal processes
Protecting the integrity of customer data and
privacy of that data is paramount. Security is more
than a feature or a benefit.
Security is a mindset, and it starts
with people. Ensure your provider
carefully reviews each employee
before hiring. SaaSplaza also have
a full-time Security Officer, who
chairs a global Security Council.
Our Security Council reviews policies, software,
infrastructure and resources regularly, to ensure
best practise security compliance and our continued
certifications.
IV. ISAE/SSAE auditing is our choice, but security is
a job for ALL
These audits are done annually, proactively, and at
SaaSplazas expense. Why would a company submit
itself to such rigorous investigation? The answer
is easy: for our customers. We know that a prime
concern many have regarding the Cloud is security.
With these audits, we are taking the necessary step
to prove that the services we provide treat security
as an essential part of every deployment.
However, security is not 100% in our hands - its
in your hands, too. For example, keeping antivirus
and malware definitions up-to-date, making proper
staffing choices, ensuring passwords are often
changed and maintaining current and correct
permissions is entirely up to you.
We can ensure the security and availability of the
Cloud, but effective internal security processes are
also essential to ensure the confidentiality, integrity
and availability of your data.
When it comes to security, were always happy to
provide recommendations and assistance. We can
help you form policies and procedures that work
best for your business, and we can make your own
security an easier undertaking.

Ready for Dynamics Cloud?

Learn more and request more information
at saasplaza.com/contact-saasplaza
Were always available for a no obligation
confidential discussion to understand your
Microsoft Dynamics requirements, to
provide you with detailed information on
moving to the Cloud - Contact Us today!

About SaaSplaza
SaaSplaza - World Leading Cloud Services for
Microsoft Dynamics since 2008.
Dynamics Cloud solutions are the only thing we
do. Because of this focus SaaSplaza is the worlds
leading Dynamics Cloud provider. Today we work
with more than 200 Dynamics partners around
the globe, powering more than 1500 Microsoft
Dynamics applications worldwide. Our commitment
to Dynamics earned membership to the Microsoft
Dynamics Inner Circle in 2014 and 2015, putting us
amongst the top 1% of the most successful Microsoft
Dynamics partners globally.
SaaSplaza delivers services globally on Microsoft
Azure and from our private cloud platforms in
Europe, the USA & Canada, and the Asia-Pacific
region.
We support our partners and their customers from
offices in Singapore, Sydney, Shanghai, Amsterdam,
Munich and San Diego, with a global 24/7 Follow
The Sun support model.
Our extensive Microsoft Dynamics engineering and
support capability means we can deliver the Cloud
solutions that exactly meet your needs. We also
continually invest in innovation, to improve service
levels and to optimise the delivery of Dynamics
applications.
SaaSplaza also provides several other Microsoft
Cloud managed services for business. These include
Microsoft Azure and Office 365 Subscription
Services, and Microsoft Dynamics Subscription
Licensing, as part of the Microsoft Cloud Solution
Provider (CSP) program.

Contact us for more information:

Europe, Middle East & Africa: +31 20 5478060
United States & Canada: +1 858 385 8900
Asia & China: +65 6222 6591
Australia & NZ: +612 8091 2805
www.saasplaza.com