On-Premises vs. Cloud HPC: Control Considerations

When organizations evaluate HPC options, one of the most important—but often overlooked—factors is control. Both on-premises and cloud-based HPC provide access to advanced compute power, but the degree of control they offer differs significantly. Following are four aspects of control to consider.

1.  Control Over Hardware and Infrastructure

• On-prem HPC environments give organizations complete control over hardware selection, configuration, and lifecycle management. This means users can choose processors, GPUs, interconnects, and storage systems that precisely align with typical workloads. For example, engineering simulations requiring low-latency InfiniBand benefit from direct integration and tuning that only an on-prem environment can provide. In contrast, cloud HPC offers limited hardware control.
• While major cloud providers advertise a wide range of instance types, users are restricted to what the provider has available. If the workload demands specialized components—or if users want to implement emerging technologies immediately—they will face constraints in the cloud.

2.  Control Over Performance and Scheduling

• On-prem systems allow organizations to prioritize jobs, allocate resources, and fine-tune scheduling policies with tools like Slurm. This ensures mission-critical workloads get the performance they need, when they need it.
• Cloud resources, while flexible, have the potential for scheduling conflicts among users. Also, virtualization layers, shared infrastructure, and availability issues can create variability in job performance. Some Cloud providers offer dedicated nodes, but at a premium and with less flexibility than on premises.

3.  Control Over Data Security and Compliance

• For industries dealing with sensitive intellectual property, control over data handling is a requirement. On-prem deployments give organizations end-to-end authority over where data resides, how it is encrypted, and who has access. This level of oversight simplifies compliance with regulations such as HIPPA.
• With cloud, organizations must trust the provider’s security protocols and geographic distribution of data centers. While most cloud vendors invest heavily in security, companies surrender direct control, which can raise concerns–especially for highly regulated or competitive industries.

4.  Control Over Costs

• On-premises HPC systems require a capital investment but provide predictable long-term costs. Once the system is in place, organizations control allocation among users and can maximize ROI by fully utilizing it.
• Cloud HPC offers pay-as-you-go flexibility, which is appealing for short-term projects or burst workloads. However, without careful monitoring, expenses tied to compute hours, storage, and data transfer can escalate quickly—leaving organizations with less control over budgeting than anticipated.

            By evaluating these factors with Nor-Tech’s experienced HPC sales and engineering teams, you can confidently select the HPC solution that fits your specific needs. Contact us for a consultation and expert evaluation: 952-808-1000; engineering@nor-tech.com.

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About Nor-Tech Nor-Tech is on CRN’s list of the top 40 Data Center Infrastructure Providers along with IBM, Oracle, Dell, and Supermicro and is also a member of Hyperion Research’s prestigious HPC Technical Computing Advisory Panel. The company is a complete high performance computer solution provider for 2015 and 2017 Nobel Physics Award-contending/winning projects.  Nor-Tech engineers average 20+ years of experience. This strong industry reputation and deep partner relationships also enable the company to be a leading supplier of cost-effective Lenovo desktops, laptops, tablets and Chromebooks to schools and enterprises.  All of Nor-Tech’s high-performance technology is developed by Nor-Tech in Minnesota and supported by Nor-Tech around the world. The company is headquartered in Burnsville, Minn. just outside of Minneapolis. Nor-Tech holds the following contracts: Minnesota State IT, University of Wisconsin System, and NASA SEWP V. To contact Nor-Tech call 952-808-1000 or visit https://www.nor-tech.com.