Maintenance organizations face a crucial decision when choosing a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS): should the solution be hosted in-house or in the vendor’s cloud. In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, organizations are intensifying their scrutiny on data security measures. Despite the high levels of security promised by cloud service providers, many organizations are strategically choosing to host their software locally. In this article, we’ll explore why on-premise CMMS deployment remains an attractive option in today’s security-focused business environment.
Security Benefits of On-Premise CMMS
On-premise CMMS deployments offer the following security benefits:
Full Control Over Technology Infrastructure
One of the primary security benefits of on-premise CMMS deployments is the full level of control it provides compared to cloud hosting. By managing your own technology infrastructure, you can tailor security measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption to meet your specific needs. This level of customization is often not possible with third-party managed cloud solutions.
Owning all the hardware and software also means that sensitive maintenance data is stored in a secure and controlled environment. This allows you to monitor systems closely and respond quickly to any potential security threats, minimizing the risk of data breaches.
Physical Security
Having your CMMS on-premise allows you to directly control and monitor physical access to your maintenance data. Servers and storages devices can be located in secure facilities with restricted access, round-the-clock video surveillance, adequate temperature control, and fire protection. Knowing that servers are on-site and well-protected can also increase confidence in your sensitive maintenance data’s security.
Access Control
With on-premise CMMS, organizations can enforce strict access control policies to prevent unauthorized access to server rooms and data centers. Control mechanisms, such as key cards, pin numbers, or biometric scanners limit entry to servers to authorized personnel only. These controls track who entered the facility and when, making it easy to track employee activity and quickly identify any suspicious behavior.
From a CMMS perspective, access to the software requires proper licensure and authentication. Once inside the software, user access is managed by permissions and other configuration settings. This ensures that only authorized users gain access to the specific modules or functions relevant to their job responsibilities and cannot access data outside of their approved boundaries.
Isolation from External Threats
Being isolated from the internet significantly reduces your exposure to external cyber threats. Generally, cloud service providers have become increasingly targeted as more and more businesses have migrated to the cloud. In contrast, disconnected, on-premise solutions are much harder to access, and would likely require bad actors to breach physical security measures first.
Control over Updates
Automatic software updates, such as those done on cloud-hosted CMMS solutions, have the potential to introduce defects, vulnerabilities, and unforeseen risks. With on-premise deployment, you have total control over when and how updates are applied, allowing time for adequate testing and CMMS software validation before rolling out updates.
In-house Security Expertise
Organizations that choose a locally-hosted CMMS solution benefit from the in-house expertise, which can provide custom solutions to meet your security needs. While third-party vendors have cybersecurity experts, their solutions are more generalized and may be less likely to be aligned with your unique security needs. An in-house team is intimately familiar with your infrastructure, processes, and risks, enabling them to provide a better security solution.
Certain industries may find this aspect of security the most advantageous. Industries such as government, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals, which are subject to stringent regulations and handle highly sensitive data, may require the added security and control of on-premise CMMS deployments.
Protect Your Valuable Maintenance Data With FTMaintenance Select On-Premise
In today’s world of increasing cybersecurity threats, the decision between cloud vs. on-premise CMMS deployments is becoming more important. While cloud solutions offer many benefits, growing concerns over data security are driving many organizations back to traditional, locally hosted solutions. FTMaintenance Select is one of the few solutions on the market today that offer a robust CMMS with an on-premise deployment option. Request a demo today to learn more.