One of the most important factors to consider whilst starting the project is whether it’s best to work on it using Cloud, Server, or Data Center hosting. Atlassian offers project management, development, customization, and all kinds of other tools for all three. The key to success is to find the right deployment solution to adjust the Atlassian products to the individual needs of your business.

The right choice depends mostly on the number of team members, how much data we’re going to maintain and process on the server, what’s the required level of customization, and finally what’s the company’s total budget. Based on these points, each business has its own requirements considering the availability, scalability, security, and total performance of the hosting. What’s more, project development is a dynamic process, where expectations can evolve from one day to the next. When is the right time for a change and how can you be sure that you’re choosing the best option from the three available?

This is where we come in. At Hexygen we have a long time experience with the Atlassian tools, as well as many different types of clients, from startups to big, international enterprises. Our team of experts not only can help you pick the right hosting but also can provide you with the support all along the way. We offer customized solutions, advisory, and a wide range of benefits, no matter if you’re starting an adventure with Atlassian possibilities or just need better conditions to deliver the results you aim for. There is no need for technical compromises. As we all know it’s always best to have some information to start with, we decided to share our knowledge even before our first conversation. Down below you’ll find a short guide presenting the differences, qualities, and recommendations for each hosting.

Atlassian Cloud hosting

Cloud is the only hosting that enables us to maintain all the data on Atlassian’s infrastructure. The individual account on Cloud, which has to be set up by the user or one of the Atlassian’s Partners, comes with an internal SMPT server. The Server is not configurable but still offers lots of functionalities, which turn out to be sufficient for most of the companies. Because of this, it doesn’t require a complicated installation process, and software like Jira, Confluence, Jira Service Desk, etc. are ready for setting up in just a few minutes, right after starting the trial. All these features make it easier and more intuitive to manage the hosting, even for not very experienced users. Automatic bug fixes and updates guaranteed by Atlassian assures that the team works on the software which is always up-to-date without the necessity for the Admin’s intervention every now and then. Along with the space for data storage, Atlassian provides Cloud users with special security features, helping to always keep the data safe. Cloud is usually recommended as a first choice for the majority of organizations, especially for startups and growing businesses, as this type of hosting is responsive to dynamic changes inside and across the teams. It’s also very comfortable when it comes to working remotely, as stored information is available for the team members from wherever they work. The Atlassian Account can be easily integrated with G Suite.

The most common disadvantages of a Cloud solution are limited data storage space as well as maximum users number (for now it’s < 5 000). Just like it is in the case of Server and Data Center, there are two payment models: monthly (via credit card) or once a year (from advance for a specific package). If we choose the payment from advance, we can benefit from paying for 10 months and getting access for 12.

Server hosting

Deciding on maintaining our data on Sever gives much more customization possibilities than Cloud, as well as a bigger choice of available plugins (even though there are more and more extensions on the Marketplace for Cloud every day). The team members can log in to their accounts through the company’s domain, not the Atlassian’s site, also the data is stored on the user’s infrastructure, which becomes indispensable in the case of projects with specific data localization requirements. On Server hosting model there are no limits when it comes to the number of users, but it’s recommended for businesses with less than 5 000 potential users.

It has to be mentioned here that Server is more demanding than Cloud when it comes to installation and customization. As the infrastructure is not provided by the Atlassian, the whole process is more complex and has to be performed by the client from inside the business. The related activities, including the app’s environment administration, are often more costly and require more experience in hosting the company’s data. It also takes much more time. This is why it’s a good idea to take into consideration the support of one of the Atlassian’s Partners. At Hexygen we not only help with the implementation process but also provide our customers with expert advisory anytime they need.

Data Center model

Data Center model, thanks to its high availability which ensures the highest level of operational performance is dedicated to big businesses with a great number of projects and team members involved. It requires storing data on the hosting managed by a company itself or an Atlassian services provider. Data Center assures the same functionalities as Server but distinguishes itself by wider supplementary capabilities, which enables to maintain great quality in enterprises which are constantly growing. This makes it possible to use Jira as a mission-critical application and still remain unaffected, even in case of serious obstacles. Data Center hosting model has much more customization possibilities through APIs and dedicated apps, so it can be perfectly matched to the company’s individual needs. It also guarantees absolute data isolation and security. There are multiple extensions available for Data Center on the Atlassian’s Marketplace. By choosing this model the client obtains scale and performance to develop products in even the largest organizations. Apart from extraordinary growth support, Data Center offers special Disaster Recovery services for JIRA Software, Jira Service Desk, Confluence, and Bitbucket.

As Data Center assures the most reliable support for complex projects, the apps for this type of hosting are the most expensive. Nevertheless, whilst making the final decision about whether the company should upgrade to Data Center, the pricing of extensions is only one thing to consider. The second, equally important one is if the business can afford the downtime. Only Data Center enables clustering for high availability and has additional tools to maintain the reliability of the Atlassian products on a great scale.

Key takeaway – comparison table

Below you can find the table comparing the features of all three: Cloud, Server, and Data Center. Remember though, that the final decision is very significant, so if there are still questions, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask. We will do our best to explain everything and recommend beneficial solutions so you can be sure that in the end your project is hosted on the best conditions possible, technically as well as financially.