How secure is on-premise signage vs cloud signage?

Both on-premise and cloud-based signage systems are secure, but they differ in where data is stored and how it’s accessed. The biggest difference lies in control and visibility.

On-premise digital signage is considered more secure because everything runs within your organization’s private IT infrastructure. The server is hosted locally, meaning only users and devices connected to your internal network can access the system. This limits exposure to external threats. All media files, schedules, and configurations stay on the local server, which ensures full data ownership and compliance with internal policies.

Cloud-based signage, on the other hand, is hosted on public cloud services such as AWS or Azure. These systems are also highly secure, using multi-layer encryption, hashing, and authentication protocols. However, since the data is stored online, it can be accessed remotely by authorized accounts from any location.

Key security differences:

• Data Storage: On-premise keeps files on your local network; cloud stores them on remote servers.

• Access Control: On-premise access is limited to your private network; cloud access requires credentials and internet connectivity.

• Visibility: On-premise servers are hidden from the public web; cloud systems are internet-facing but protected by encryption.

• Responsibility: On-premise security is managed by your IT team, while cloud vendors handle security at their end.

For organizations that handle sensitive information such as government departments, hospitals, and bank. On-premise signage provides stronger control and isolation. For businesses prioritizing convenience and scalability, cloud-based signage offers secure yet flexible remote access.

Both are safe, but on-premise signage wins in environments where privacy, data protection, and limited exposure are top priorities.