Why Orderwise users are moving from on-prem to hosted servers

Limitations of on-prem servers

There was a time when running Orderwise using on-prem servers might have made perfect sense. Businesses wanted control over their hardware and the reassurance that everything was physically on-site. But as systems grow more complex, teams are distributed and with cybersecurity risks on the increase, legacy setups such as these can become a liability. 

One of the biggest issues here is hardware age. Many Orderwise users are running servers that are past their prime, which can lead to slower processing times, a laggy user experience and an increased risk of unexpected failures. When those servers go down, Orderwise does too – and with it, the business operations that rely on it to function. 

On-prem setups can also be demanding to maintain. Updates and patches need to be applied manually, while backups must be monitored and security configurations require continual attention. All of this adds to the workload of already overstretched internal IT teams. 

What’s more, when a business grows, on-prem systems can become a financial drain. Expanding storage or processing power often means investing in new equipment, which can be costly, time-consuming and potentially disruptive. 

What a hosted environment actually means

Moving your Orderwise setup to a hosted environment means relocating it from local, on-prem servers to professionally managed infrastructure hosted in a secure data centre. Orderwise still works exactly as it has otherwisebefore, with users still logging in and using it in exactly the same way. It’s just a more resilient and reliable way of running the same software your business already relies on. 

A hosted setup such as that provided by Ridgeon Network typically includes modern, high-performance hardware, built-in redundancy, continuous monitoring and regular maintenance carried out by specialist teams. From a technical standpoint, this puts the system on a far more robust foundation and removes the support and maintenance from your workload.. 

The migration process usually involves assessing the current environment, transferring data securely, configuring the hosted server and performing checks before go-live. When handled properly, disruption is kept to a minimum and many businesses find the transition smoother than expected. 

Advantages of hosted servers

For businesses running on Orderwise and considering their next steps, hosted servers offer a range of benefits. These include: 

• Performance: Hosted environments typically benefit from newer, more powerful hardware and optimised configurations, so that Orderwise runs faster and more consistently. Tasks that once felt sluggish become smooth and responsive, even at peak times. 

• Reliability: Because hosted server infrastructure is built with redundancy and monitored around the clock, the risk of sudden outages is much lower. If one component fails, another takes its place; this is something most on-prem setups aren’t equipped for. 

• Security: Hosted servers benefit from regular patching, proactive threat monitoring, tightly controlled access and professionally managed backups. For most businesses, it would be difficult (not to mention costly) to replicate this level of protection in-house. 

• Cost: On-prem servers eventually need replacing, maintaining or upgrading – costs that can land in your lap very suddenly. Hosted environments offer a more consistent operational cost as well as reducing the workload associated with manual updates and maintenance. 

• Scalability and accessibility: As your business grows and more people need access to Orderwise, hosted servers can accommodate this without you having to invest in extra hardware. Resources can be increased quickly as needed, without disruption. 

Practical benefits for businesses

Companies that have transferred from on-premise to hosted servers often report more stable performance, fewer system issues and a reduction in downtime. Recurring problems such as slow processing, unreliable connections and bottlenecks during peak periods often disappear. 

Another positive is the reduced burden on internal IT teams. Without the need to monitor hardware, manage server rooms or handle emergency failures, IT staff can devote more time to making strategic improvements instead of having to rush around applying reactive fixes. 

Businesses, understandably, may worry about the potential for disruption during the initial switch. However, migrations are typically well-structured and carefully thought out in advance so that they can be carried out with minimal impact on day-to-day operations. 

Time to make the switch?

If your on-prem servers are showing their age, performance is becoming inconsistent or your business is expanding into new markets or locations, migrating to a hosted environment is the logical next step. The long-term advantages of off-site, professionally managed infrastructure are becoming apparent to a growing number of businesses, especially as security threats and user needs evolve.