On-Premises Exchange Vs. Office 365

Read time 5 minutes

Microsoft Exchange Server has been a champion of email and calendar services for a business. It has a maximum market share compared to other professional servers, and Microsoft has constantly updated it with newer features and better control, security, and management.

Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed the rapid rise of cloud platforms, with Microsoft leading the charge in this digital transformation. Microsoft’s Office 365 stands at the forefront of cloud services, offering a spectrum of plans tailored to meet the needs of individuals, students, businesses, and enterprises alike. Within the Office 365 ecosystem, you’ll find a diverse array of cloud-based applications and tools. Notably, Office 365 encompasses Exchange, seamlessly integrated with a robust suite of additional cloud services, including SharePoint Online, MS Office, Access, OneNote, Skype for Business, and a host of other invaluable resources.

Understand the requirements of your business

If you find yourself grappling with the decision of which platform best aligns with your organization’s needs, allow us to provide you with an in-depth examination of the features, advantages, and drawbacks of both options. Your choices revolve around two Microsoft offerings: Exchange Server on-premises or Office 365. However, before reaching a decision, it’s essential to grasp your business’s specific requirements. Several factors will help guide you toward the Exchange Server solution that best suits your enterprise:

• What is the total cost for managing the on-site resources?
• What type of business does your organization run?
• What is the total expenditure on hardware and software resources?
• What kind of benefits will Exchange Server on-premises or Online give?
• How long do you need the application?

Exchange Server (on-premises) is available for purchase along with client access licenses. You only need to deploy sufficient hardware and install Exchange and clients as per your needs.

Advantages

1. The organization has total authority over the hardware and software of the Exchange. You can easily configure the specifications or settings and manage the mailboxes and mail flow.
2. You have total control over system updates, backup, and restoration of the data. The on-premises environment enhances the quality of data management.
3. You can integrate many other business applications with the Exchange Server.
4. You can archive the emails at the desired location and use advanced search facilities.
5. You can easily upgrade your security plans.
6. Due to the proximity of the Server, the throughput and access time for the mailbox is quite high. Any bad network connection can be easily fixed.
7. The Public Folder shares the single mailbox with multiple users. It makes the storage efficient.
8. The security is high and offers multi-level control and management.
9. Durability, accessibility, and maintainability of on-premises mailboxes is almost 100%.
10. It is easy to meet organizational and regulatory compliances.

Disadvantages

1. Maintenance and upgrade of the hardware and software are expensive.
2. An on-site Exchange administrator should be responsible for managing the mailboxes, stopping unauthorized access, and recovering the deleted/corrupt mailboxes.
3. The initial installation requires a high investment.
4. To implement an Exchange Server, you need expertise in multiple IT skills like DNS Services, firewalls, and Active Directory.

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based cloud platform from Microsoft. There are multiple plans to which you can subscribe based on your needs. Office 365 is available in different plans like Office 365 Home, Office 365 Personal, and Office 365 Education.

Advantages

1. You can get many essential services like Exchange Server, Skype for Business, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint, Skype, etc.
2. All the facilities are available instantly.
3. You do not need to pay for any updates.
4. Microsoft does all the hardware and software updates at their end, and it does not affect the business functioning.
5. Cloud platform reduces your on-site expenditures, which you can invest in other resources.
6. Offers accessibility from anywhere (any device or any location).

Disadvantages

1. You are unaware of the location of your data. Microsoft has data centers in different parts of the globe, and you are completely unaware of the location of your data.
2. Manual data migration requires third-party assistance and is quite time-consuming.
3. Integration with the on-premises applications is difficult.
4. There are no proper archiving abilities in Office 365.
5. Meeting organizational and regulatory compliances will be difficult, at least in some geographical locations.

As demonstrated earlier, both Exchange and Office 365 offer a range of benefits alongside certain limitations. But what steps can be taken to effectively address these limitations once you’ve committed to a particular platform? The solution is straightforward: leverage third-party tools tailored to meet your specific needs. Our extensive array of professional solutions is designed to streamline and enhance your ability to manage Exchange or Office 365 tasks with remarkable efficiency and precision.

For instance, consider the Kernel for Exchange Server helps you perform recovery and small-scale migrations. With Kernel Office 365 Backup tool, you can backup Exchange/Office 365 data without errors. All these tools help you overcome the limitations of your email management tools.

Final Words

When comparing the two platforms, Exchange Server and Office 365, determining the superior option can be a challenging task. The choice primarily hinges on your specific professional requirements. Fortunately, Kernel offers a diverse range of tools tailored to address the needs of both Exchange and Office 365 users. These tools encompass tasks such as recovering corrupted Exchange databases, facilitating seamless platform migrations, and safeguarding your data through backup solutions. Consider exploring tools such as Kernel for Exchange Server, Kernel Migrator for Exchange, Kernel Office 365 Backup & Restore, and more, to effectively meet your needs in this dynamic landscape.