Managed vs Self-Managed On-Premise Cloud: What’s Best for Your Business?

Explore the pros and cons of managed vs. self-managed on-premise clouds and discover how Atmosphere offers flexibility, control, and expert support.

§ Introduction

Even though cloud computing has become the norm, not everyone is eager to hand over their data to a public platform. For businesses that want the flexibility and scalability of the cloud without sacrificing control, on-premise cloud solutions offer the best of both worlds. Whether it’s for compliance, performance, or simply the comfort of knowing where your data lives, on-premise clouds allow organizations to keep things firmly within their grasp. 

But choosing an on-premise cloud is only half the decision. The real question is: who’s going to manage it? There are two main approaches—handing the reins to a third-party provider with a managed model or taking full ownership with a self-managed model. Managed clouds take the operational burden off your plate but come at a cost and may involve some level of dependency. Meanwhile, self-managed clouds give you the autonomy to run things your way, but they require time, expertise, and a team ready to tackle the challenges that come with it. 

Atmosphere’s On-Premise edition offers the flexibility to meet both needs. Whether you want a fully managed solution to free up your resources or prefer to take control with expert support when needed, Atmosphere provides the tools and services to make your on-premise cloud a success.  

§ What is an On-Premise Cloud? 

An on-premise cloud is essentially a private cloud that resides within an organization’s own physical infrastructure or in a dedicated environment. Unlike public cloud solutions, where data and workloads are hosted off-site by third-party providers, an on-premise cloud keeps everything closer to home—under the direct control of the organization. This setup provides the flexibility of cloud technologies while maintaining the security and autonomy of local infrastructure. 

One of the key advantages of an on-premise cloud is the level of control it offers. Organizations have complete oversight of their infrastructure, allowing them to customize configurations to meet specific business needs. Data sovereignty is another major benefit; sensitive information remains within the organization’s jurisdiction, making it easier to comply with strict regulatory or industry requirements. Additionally, on-premise clouds often deliver better performance for latency-sensitive applications, as data doesn’t need to travel over external networks. 

Atmosphere takes the on-premise cloud a step further by offering a robust and customizable platform built to adapt to diverse operational demands. Whether it’s enabling high-performance computing, ensuring regulatory compliance, or integrating seamlessly with existing IT systems, Atmosphere’s On-Premise edition delivers a tailored solution that empowers businesses to harness the full potential of their private cloud environment. 

§ The Managed On-Premise Cloud Model 

A managed on-premise cloud is a private cloud environment fully operated and maintained by a third-party provider, such as Atmosphere’s managed services. In this model, the organization retains the benefits of an on-premise cloud—control, data sovereignty, and compliance—while outsourcing the day-to-day operational complexities to cloud experts. 

Key Features 

The managed model comes with several features designed to simplify cloud operations: 

• Remote Management and Proactive Monitoring 
  The provider takes care of monitoring the cloud environment, identifying and resolving potential issues before they escalate. 
• Regular Updates, Patches, and Upgrades 
  All software and infrastructure updates are handled by experts, ensuring your cloud remains secure and up-to-date without disrupting operations. 
• 24/7/365 Professional Support  
  Around-the-clock support ensures operational continuity, giving businesses peace of mind that help is always available when needed. 

Advantages 

The managed approach offers significant benefits, especially for organizations with limited internal IT resources: 

• Reduced Need for In-House Expertise 
  By relying on the provider’s expertise, businesses can avoid the cost and effort of building and maintaining a highly specialized in-house team. 
• Focus on Strategic Initiatives 
  With operational tasks outsourced, internal teams can dedicate their time to driving innovation and achieving business goals. 
• Reliability and Uptime 
  Proactive management by experienced professionals ensures a stable and resilient cloud environment, minimizing the risk of downtime. 

Drawbacks 

While the managed model simplifies operations, it’s not without its drawbacks: 

• Potentially Higher Costs 
  The convenience of outsourcing comes at a price, and managed services can be more expensive over time compared to self-management. 
• Dependency on External Providers 
  Relying on a third-party for critical operations introduces a level of dependency, which might not be ideal for businesses that prioritize autonomy. 

§ The Self-Managed On-Premise Cloud Model 

In contrast, the self-managed model puts the responsibility squarely in the hands of the organization’s in-house IT team. This approach offers maximum control and flexibility, but it requires significant expertise and commitment to maintain. 

Key Features 

• Full control over the infrastructure and operations, allowing businesses to tailor their environment to their exact needs. 
• Customization to accommodate unique business requirements, whether for compliance, performance optimization. 
• Opportunity to build internal expertise in cloud management, strengthening the organization’s IT capabilities. 

Advantages 

• Provides complete autonomy, with no dependency on external providers for management or decision-making. 
• Predictable long-term costs with no risk of vendor lock-in or unexpected price increases. 
• Optimized performance for tasks requiring intensive local traffic, as data remains entirely within the organization’s network. 
• Managing the infrastructure in-house allows the team to gain hands-on experience with OpenStack and Kubernetes technologies. By troubleshooting issues, optimizing performance, and implementing new features, the team can develop advanced skills and expertise, enhancing organizational capabilities over time. 

Drawbacks 

• Requires a dedicated team with the time, expertise, and resources to manage the infrastructure effectively, and if, key resources leave, you may find yourself in a crunch. 
• Increased risk of errors, downtime, or security vulnerabilities without expert support or proactive monitoring. 
• Maintenance tasks, such as backups, failover systems, and disaster recovery, become the responsibility of the organization. 

The self-managed model is ideal for organizations with a strong IT team and a desire for full control over their cloud infrastructure. However, it demands careful planning, investment in training, and ongoing commitment to ensure reliability and security. 

§ Key Considerations for Choosing the Right Model

Technical Expertise 
Do you have the right team to run the cloud yourself? A self-managed model means you’ll need IT staff who can handle everything from troubleshooting to updates. If your team is already stretched thin or lacks the necessary expertise, outsourcing to a managed provider might save you a lot of headaches. 

Budget 
It’s not just about what’s cheaper—it’s about how the costs play out over time. Managed services can feel expensive because you’re paying for convenience and expertise, but they might save you from the cost of hiring and training an internal team. On the flip side, self-managing can reduce recurring fees, but only if you’ve budgeted for the tools, staff, and time it takes to keep things running smoothly. 

Control vs. Convenience 
How hands-on do you want to be? Self-managed clouds give you all the control—you make the decisions, set up the systems, and have full autonomy. But with that control comes responsibility. Managed clouds, on the other hand, trade some of that control for convenience. You let someone else handle the details so you can focus on other priorities. 

Scalability 
Think about the future. If your business is growing or your needs might change, scaling a self-managed cloud means more planning, resources, and work for your team. Managed providers often make scaling easier—they have the infrastructure ready to grow with you without adding more to your workload. 

Compliance and Security 
If you’re in an industry with heavy regulations or sensitive data, this is a big one. Managing your own cloud means you’re responsible for ensuring compliance and security—no exceptions. Managed providers, like Atmosphere, often come with built-in compliance measures and expertise to help you meet these requirements without starting from scratch. 

Downtime Risk 
Downtime is one of those things that can either be a minor inconvenience or a complete disaster, depending on your business. Managed providers are usually proactive, with teams monitoring your environment 24/7 to catch issues before they escalate. If you’re self-managing, the risk of downtime is on you, and it’s up to your team to respond quickly and effectively when something goes wrong. 

In the end, the decision comes down to what works best for your business. Do you have the in-house skills, time, and resources to manage your cloud, or would outsourcing free you up to focus on other priorities? With Atmosphere’s On-Premise edition, you can go either way—fully managed services to take the load off or support for self-managed environments when you want to stay hands-on. Whatever you choose, it’s about finding the right balance for your unique needs. 

§How Atmosphere Supports Both Managed and Self-Managed On-Premise Clouds 

Atmosphere’s On-Premise edition is designed with unmatched flexibility, allowing businesses to choose the operational model that best fits their needs—whether it’s a fully managed solution to simplify operations or a self-managed environment for greater autonomy. Whichever model you choose, Atmosphere ensures your cloud infrastructure is  powerful, secure, and optimized to meet modern demands. 

Fully Managed On-Premise Cloud

For organizations looking to offload the complexities of managing their cloud infrastructure, Atmosphere offers a fully managed service that allows businesses to focus on their strategic priorities while leaving day-to-day operations to experts. 

• Proactive Monitoring with 300+ Alerts 
  Atmosphere’s managed services include 24/7 monitoring with over 300 pre-configured alerts, providing real-time insights into your cloud’s health and performance. This proactive approach ensures potential issues are identified and resolved before they escalate. 
• Seamless Updates  
  Software patches and security updates are applied automatically and frequently, ensuring your cloud remains secure and resilient without any operational disruptions. 
• Hassle-Free Upgrades 
  Major infrastructure upgrades, such as OpenStack's biannual releases, are expertly managed to deliver the latest features and enhancements while minimizing downtime and operational impact. 
• Expert Operations Team 
  A dedicated team of professionals ensures reliability, uptime, and compliance with regulatory requirements, so your cloud environment runs smoothly at all times. 
• Customizable Management 
  While Atmosphere manages operations, organizations retain control over key policies, configurations, and decisions, ensuring the solution aligns perfectly with their goals. 
• Third-Party Tool Integration 
  Atmosphere is designed to work with a wide range of third-party tools, ensuring businesses don’t have to forfeit their existing investments. For example, while Ceph is the default storage backend, Atmosphere can integrate with third-party solutions like Pure Storage. This flexibility allows organizations to maximize the value of their current systems while seamlessly transitioning to a managed cloud environment. 

Self-Managed On-Premise Cloud 

For businesses that prefer full control over their cloud infrastructure, Atmosphere provides the tools and support needed for a seamless self-managed experience. 

• Comprehensive Deployment Support 
  Atmosphere assists with initial setup and configuration, ensuring your cloud is optimized for your operational needs right from the start. 
• Proactive Monitoring with 300+ Alerts  
  Even in self-managed environments, Atmosphere offers optional support with advanced monitoring tools and over 300 alerts to help your team stay on top of performance and potential issues. 
• Expert Guidance 
  Atmosphere provides professional services, consulting, and training to help build internal expertise, empowering your IT team to manage the cloud effectively. 
• Open-Source Integration 
  Built on open-source technologies like OpenStack and Kubernetes, Atmosphere offers the flexibility to integrate third-party tools and customize your environment. 
• Access to 24/7 Support 
  For self-managed models, optional support packages ensure expert assistance is always available when needed. 

Why Atmosphere is Ideal for Both Models 

Atmosphere bridges the gap between managed and self-managed solutions, providing: 

• Tailored Flexibility 
  Atmosphere adapts to your preferred model, whether you want a fully managed experience or the freedom of self-management. 
• Proactive Monitoring Across Models 
  With 300+ alerts, Atmosphere delivers deep visibility and real-time insights into infrastructure performance, no matter the management model. 
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Automation 
  Atmosphere is built on an IaC-based architecture, enabling streamlined automation for deployment and ongoing operations. This ensures that teams can maintain their cloud environments efficiently and focus on innovation instead of operational complexities. Unlike other OpenStack distributions, Atmosphere’s automated architecture makes it a critical piece of the puzzle, simplifying what was once a complex deployment process. 
• Scalability 
  The modular design ensures easy scaling for both managed and self-managed environments as your business grows. 
• Built-In Compliance 
  Atmosphere includes tools and configurations to meet stringent regulatory requirements, providing peace of mind. 
• Future-Proof Design: 
  Leveraging open-source technologies, Atmosphere ensures your cloud can evolve with new tools, trends, and innovations.

With Atmosphere, businesses don’t have to compromise between flexibility and simplicity. Whether you want a hands-off managed solution or the autonomy of self-management, Atmosphere equips you with the tools, expertise, and monitoring capabilities to ensure your on-premise cloud is a success. 

§ Conclusion

Atmosphere empowers businesses to take full control of their on-premise cloud strategy, offering the flexibility to choose between a fully managed or self-managed approach. With features like 300+ pre-configured alerts for proactive monitoring, seamless integration of open-source technologies, and built-in compliance tools, Atmosphere ensures your cloud environment is optimized, secure, and ready to scale. Whether you want to offload operational complexities or maintain complete autonomy, Atmosphere provides the platform, support, and expertise to make your on-premise cloud a success. Choose the model that fits your needs—Atmosphere will handle the rest. 

If you’d like to bring Atmosphere into your organization with the help of our team of experts, reach out to our sales team today!