Cloud or On-Premises?

ItemPath is available in two deployment options:

Cloud based (ItemPath Cloud)
On-premises

Each configuration offers advantages and disadvantages, this article will explore these and the differences between both. You will only need to install ItemPath yourself (see Linux, Windows) if you plan on an on-premises deployment.

Differences at a glance

Feature	ItemPath Cloud	ItemPath On-Premises
Hosting	ItemPath-managed servers	Customer-managed servers
Installation	ItemPath provides login information; no installation required by customer	Customer installs and manages the application
Updates & Backups	ItemPath's responsibility	Often customer responsibility
Network Configuration	May require port-forwarding, firewall configuration, and IP allowlisting	Fewer network configuration tasks (firewalls, port forwarding)
Control & Security	ItemPath ensures security (SOC2 certified); potentially less control for customer	Greater control and security; isolated from outside network
Complexity	Simpler setup and management	More complex setup and maintenance (requires container knowledge - Docker/Podman)
Cost	Generally lower cost	Typically higher cost
Support	Easier for ItemPath to support	More complex support scenarios

ItemPath Cloud

ItemPath Cloud is a cloud-based application that you can access from any device connected to the internet. This means that ItemPath is responsible for deploying the application, providing updates, and conducting database backups.

Cloud hosting has several key advantages:

You don’t have to manage any servers for ItemPath.
If your Power Pick server isn’t directly connected to the internet, you can use port-forwarding rules and a firewall with an IP allowlist to secure your connection between ItemPath and Power Pick.
ItemPath staff will have an easier time supporting you, as they can easily access your ItemPath instance should the need arise. Because of this, ItemPath cloud is available at a lower price than the on-premises configuration.

If you have purchased ItemPath Cloud, there are no installation steps for you to take! ItemPath will provide your team with your login information, so you can begin to configure the application immediately (Connect to Power Pick, create users, etc.). ItemPath is committed to providing ItemPath securely as a cloud-based app and is SOC2 certified. Feel free to reach out to the Support or Sales teams if you have questions about ItemPath’s security practices.

Companies with strong security practices might not allow for this type of network configuration for connecting with your Power Pick installation, in which case, you can consider an on-premises installation.

On-premises

For companies with strict security requirements, on-premises ItemPath licenses allow you to install ItemPath onto a server that you provide yourself. In this case, you assume full responsibility for hosting ItemPath, updating ItemPath, and backing up your data.

The main advantages of an on-premises installation are:

You will have more control and security over your ItemPath installation.
Fewer network configuration tasks (firewalls, port forwarding rules).
ItemPath will be on the same network as your Power Pick installation.

Some of these benefits increase the complexity for your administrators, and make it more difficult to update ItemPath or configure integrations. On-premises installations require the use of containers (through Docker or Podman) to ensure a stable runtime environment for ItemPath. ItemPath supports both Linux servers and Windows desktop operating systems for on-premises installations of ItemPath.

Since installing, supporting, and updating are all more intensive for on-premises installations, an on-premises license is more expensive than an ItemPath Cloud license. You also need to ensure that ItemPath is running on a server with suitable hardware requirements (see Linux, Windows) and you will be responsible for maintaining and upgrading your server. As part of your onboarding, ItemPath will provide you with the necessary information to install and configure ItemPath.