Definition of On-Premise IT Infrastructure | Generated by AI
“On-premise” (also written as “on-premises”) refers to software, hardware, or IT infrastructure that is physically located and operated within an organization’s own facilities, rather than being hosted externally or in the cloud.
For example, if a company runs its email servers in its own data center in the building, that’s on-premise. In contrast, using Gmail or Office 365 would be cloud-based.
Key characteristics:
- The organization owns or leases the physical hardware
- IT staff maintain and manage the systems directly
- Data stays within the company’s physical location
- The company is responsible for security, updates, and maintenance
The term is commonly used when comparing deployment options, like “on-premise vs. cloud” solutions. Some organizations prefer on-premise for greater control over their data and systems, while others prefer cloud solutions for lower upfront costs and easier scalability.