SOLIDWORKS: Cloud 3D CAD browser-based vs locally 3D CAD installed 5

CAD2015,

I have been playing a bit with the cloud-based OnShape. My precious files are stored on servers located somewhere, and controlled by PTC. I am at the mercy of their security and any future business models. I would prefer it if my data were stored on my hard or solid state drive, located behind my firewall.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

I think it depends on company size, if you can always rely on the internet connection and how much variation you have with use.
So a large company who has lots of people working the majority of their time on CAD I think you cant beat having a workstation under each persons desk.
But for a start up who only has a couple of users and maybe some of them work remotely Cloud based wins.

A few years ago, I was the company contact with a new IT provider. They wanted to push everything to cloud based, and for me, the main item that determined it for us was our location. With where the building sat, there was something screwy with the comm towers and wiring. Any time someone hit a telephone pole in about a 5 mile radius, we lost internet.

If we had gone cloud based, then the computers basically became paperweights, and everyone was dead in the water. That's still a selling point for me, being able to work if a grid does hiccup, as long as you have power.

Will be a tough sell for anyone to get me to willingly go cloud-based for that reason alone. (Yes, we had remote workers also, but had separate synced servers at each location. Even if we dropped offline, they still had access to their server to keep on rolling)

Gavin_UK and Ohiocad,​

Thanks a lot for your reply.
Your input helps me a lot!

We have ITAR products. So, cloud based is not allowed.

Thank you, Chris.

Here are some links on cloud based servers...

Dead retailer's 'customer data' turns up on seized kit, unencrypted and very much for sale

Here is a fun link from the article above...

NCIX, Able Auctions, and Bowra Group Data Breach