While there are numerous benefits to opting for SaaS solutions for your IT needs, they are not without risk. From outage concerns to security vulnerabilities, relying solely on the stability of cloud-based offerings can feel like a gamble. One recent example where things went dramatically sideways is the CrowdStrike update error that wreaked havoc on 8.5 million Windows devices around the globe.
And CrowdStrike is just one example out of many. Downtime during IT system crashes like these cause flight delays, news outlet outages, and even emergency services disruption—not to mention the reported millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Many industries require stability and data security—so why does so much software pivot away from safer deployment options?
On-premises deployment helps security conscious companies to avoid such risks. One thing Issuetrak can say with resounding clarity is that we will always offer an on-premises solution.
Why On-Premise Software Is Important
Vendors that actually offer on-premises options are becoming fewer and fewer. Many organizations are being forced into the cloud as more software providers convert to SaaS. Jira’s and Spiceworks’ recent deprecation of on–premise hung a number of their data security conscious customers out to dry.
For the premise options that still remain on the market, it’s critical to note that not all on-premise solutions are created equal. Many do not run natively and must still rely on phone-home capability for basic elements. Issuetrak’s on-premises software is carefully architected to work natively out of the box and securely in any environment, including in organizations that must adhere to compliance regulations with their air-gapped systems.
Benefits of On-Premises Deployment
Whether deploying on-premises or on the cloud, Issuetrak offers customers the same robust product capabilities. There are advantages to either deployment option, but for customers who require or prefer on-premises hosting, benefits include:
- Complete control of data security and direct access to and permissions over data.
- Easier integrations into other systems, i.e., if a database is inside your environment, you don’t have to jump through certification hoops just to access it.
- Backend reporting with direct access to your database: Instead of having to use Issuetrak’s Report Writer, for example, you can use Crystal Reports or PowerBI which both connect to SQL servers.
- Configuration flexibility allows you to modify your system to your unique needs; for example: you can add certain features you require, if needed.
- Full control of backup plans and data restoration in-house. Issuetrak’s jurisdiction requires a backup every 15 minutes, but with on-premises deployment, you get to choose your preferred backup cadence.
- Upgrades are up to you. You can determine when and to which software version you wish to upgrade.
- Authentication technology, like SSO or MFA, provides access control for systems by checking to see if a user's credentials match the credentials in a database of authorized users or a data authentication server. Wide-ranging authentication options are available with Issuetrak to give companies flexibility, including LDAP, Active Directory Federation Services, Azure AD, and OAuth 2.0 / OIDC. Such authentication ensures that systems, processes and enterprise information are secure.
Industries That Benefit The Most from Being On-Premises
Deploying software on-premises benefits anyone, but certain industries and departments require absolute control over data in an on-premises environment. Some examples of industries that find great success using premise software include:
Defense Industry and Government Contracting
Given the intricate demands of their complex organizational structures, government contractors benefit from the ability to handle Reporting, Email Integration, and Asset Management when deploying software on-premises. Issuetrak’s visibility controls also enhance confidentiality by guaranteeing that end-users access only their own issues.
- One Issuetrak customer, a global aerospace and defense company, provides critical systems for national security and military applications. Their need for multiple Issuetrak sites helps in separating entities like field engineering from electronic systems logistics, while still enabling the organization to communicate as a whole.
Healthcare Institutions
Healthcare institutions with HIPAA compliance have concerns over data proprietorship and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), often employing huge teams for network security. While Issuetrak maintains HIPAA compliance capability for both on-premises and in the cloud, it’s understandable that healthcare institutions value or may require on-premises deployment for absolute data control, especially if they wish to access data at the SQL table level.
- Issuetrak’s healthcare customers often grapple with reporting limitations, lack of HIPAA compliance, affordability, and support in their help desk software providers. One wellness provider uses Issuetrak’s Report Writer feature to extract precise data for their reports. Others may prefer the alternative of back-end reporting with connection to SQL servers. For many health centers and hospitals, Issuetrak’s visibility controls ensure that only relevant users have access to specific issues, enhancing data security and compliance.
Federal, State and Local Governance
A number of municipal bodies use Issuetrak for requests and complaints tracking to address citizens' concerns. This includes providing statistics and maintaining open communications about public transportation incidents, infrastructural disruptions, etc.
- Customers such as Housing Authorities, Social Services, and Civil Rights departments prefer to safeguard their data on-premises, and hugely benefit from the automatic logs and issue histories in Issuetrak’s centralized database. These comprehensive audit trails increase ticket visibility and follow-through to ensure accountability to citizen requests.
Finance and Banking
Security is central to large financial institutions handling sensitive information. Many of Issuetrak’s customers in the finance sector opt for on-premises deployment to further defend against identity and monetary theft.
- One large financial institution enjoys being able to use Issuetrak to centralize documentation of issues, errors, and remediation steps, as well as involve the right decision-makers for key approval processes. Issuetrak links to email systems and Active Directory, which makes communications seamless for end users. Other customers such as Credit Unions and various Accounts Payable departments can safeguard invoice, tax, and payroll information on-premises, while continuing to enjoy the centralized nature of Issuetrak’s tracking system.
These customer cases are just a sampling of how various industries operate successfully when deploying Issuetrak on-premises software.
The Issuetrak Advantage: Issuetrak’s Unique Offer for On-Premises Software
- On-Premises Isn’t Going Away: Several software vendors only have a cloud product and do not offer on-premises implementations whatsoever. Jira and Spiceworks deprecated their on-premises versions in 2023, whereas other big names like Zendesk do not offer any implementation beyond cloud. At Issuetrak, we’ll continue to offer our software on-premises. We value and understand the deep need for on-premises deployment due to the growing shortage of options on the market.
READ: Cloud or On-Prem: Which Deployment is the Best for My Organization?
- Product Flexibility To Fit Any Industry or Usage: Some organizations get stuck with vendors who offer a simple “one-size-fits-all” model and leave customers to implement the product themselves. In other cases still, companies frequently outsource developers to custom-build software tools, only to realize that their new software quickly becomes outdated and they no longer have the staff to update or fix problems that arise.
- Air-Gapping Compatibility: Issuetrak’s Sales, PS and Support teams are experts who deeply understand the complexities, security requirements and frustrations that can come with air gapped networks. We know how to work with these environments to install, configure, upgrade and support, reducing frustration and saving time. As a native application with no phone-home requirement, Issuetrak’s on-premises software is fully compatible with any air-gapped environment and will help those organizations adhere to their compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Anytime Upgrades: As needs and technology evolve over time, on-premises customers never have to worry about becoming outdated because they can upgrade penalty-free at any time to the latest on-premises version on offer. Furthermore, Issuetrak’s team is prepared and skilled to offer dedicated concierge support to organizations under these restraints.
- White-gloved Implementation: Our knowledgeable Support team has vast experience and can assist you with on-premises installations to your server. In circumstances where institutions are air-gapped and cannot accept remote support, we present best practices live on our training site, as well as offer on-site implementation.
- Migration from a hosted environment to on-premises software can be fairly straightforward when you work with the right team. Not to mention, Issuetrak’s cloud and premise offering offer the same robust features, giving users maximal abilities over their processes. Having an implementation team to help build your process into the software product can save a lot of time and headaches down the road, too.
Issuetrak will always offer on-premises deployment to those in need. For organizations that are security-conscious and data-sensitive, consider deploying Issuetrak’s on-premises solution today. See pricing for Issuetrak's on-premises software.