What does on-premises mean?
An on-premises installation means the software runs on the organisation's own servers or in its own environment instead of at the supplier.
With your own installation, data and operations stay with you. You decide where the servers are, who has access and when updates are made.
It gives the most control but also more responsibility. Someone needs to handle operations, backups and updates, either your own IT staff or a partner.
The alternative is that the supplier runs it. It is then important that the installation is separate for each customer and that it is clear where it is. iSearch can run at your site or in a dedicated environment with us.
How it works
The software is installed on servers the organisation controls, in its own data centre or in a separate part of its own IT environment. Sign-in, storage and processing happen there. For AI, it means the model runs in that environment too, so questions and documents are not sent anywhere else.
Why it matters
On-premise gives the most control over where data lives and who can reach it. That makes it easier to meet requirements on confidentiality, protective security and data sovereignty, and to show it during an audit. The organisation is then itself responsible for the processing and needs no processor for the operation.
What to keep in mind
Operations need planning from the start. Who updates, who monitors, and what happens when something fails on a Friday evening? Allow for hardware that can handle AI, especially if many people will use it at once.
On-premise is not secure in itself either. Permissions, logging and backups need to work as well as they would with a provider.
What it means for you
Choose based on how sensitive the data is and who will run it. Both routes can be right.
Common questions
How is it different from a cloud service?
With a cloud service, the software runs at the supplier. With an on-premises installation, it runs in your environment, and you decide on data, access and updates.
Is on-premises more expensive?
You take on more responsibility for operations and hardware. In return, everything is processed on your side. Compare the total cost over time, including the work on contracts and security questions.
Can an on-premises installation run without internet?
Yes, if the whole solution is in the environment, including the language model. This is often called an air gap.
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