Introduction to SharePoint On-Prem
Architecture & Setup
Site Management
Lists & Libraries
Pages & Content
Permissions & Security
Search & Navigation
Automation & Workflows
Integration & Extensibility
Development & Customization
Administration & Governance
Migration
Compliance & Records Management
Differences from SharePoint Online
Although SharePoint On-Premises and SharePoint Online share robust collaboration and document management capabilities, their fundamental variations are in where they are hosted, maintained, and upgraded. Which one to use depends on a business’s requirements for control, expense, and access to current upgrades.
Hosting and Control
The most significant distinction is where the application resides. SharePoint On-Premises is hosted on a business’s own servers and controlled by its in-house IT staff. This provides a company with total management of its hardware, security, and data. It’s a suitable option for companies that have strict data privacy or compliance needs. SharePoint Online, on the other hand, is a hosted and cloud-based service managed by Microsoft in its entirety. It’s accessed with a web browser, and all the server upgrade, maintenance, and security update responsibilities are left to Microsoft.
Features and Updates
Because SharePoint Online is a cloud service, Microsoft provides a constant stream of new features and security updates. It’s always running the latest and most up-to-date version. For SharePoint On-Premises, new features are only available with major version releases, such as SharePoint 2019 or the Subscription Edition. A company must choose when to perform a costly and complex upgrade to get new features. This implies that the on-premises editions are usually a few steps back from the features implemented in SharePoint Online.
Cost and Management
The cost models differ significantly as well. An on-premises setup involves a one-time huge investment in server hardware, software licenses, and a dedicated IT team for maintenance. This makes it a significant capital expense. On the other hand, SharePoint Online is a subscription-based product that has predictable monthly or yearly fees, and there are no significant hardware or staffing expenses. The expense of operating and keeping the service running is factored into the subscription, and it is an easier operational cost to businesses.
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