Atlassian Jira Data Center vs Cloud side-by-side comparison. Key differences to know in 2024

The article was updated for accuracy in August 2024.

Confused about whether to go with Jira Data Center or Cloud?

It’s a nightmare when your project management tool isn’t aligning with your growth strategy. You’re left dealing with slowdowns and inefficiencies.

Here’s a detailed comparison that clears up the confusion and guides you to the perfect choice for 2024.

Jira Cloud and Data Center are two hosting options Atlassian offers. Jira Cloud operates as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. It gives companies a scalable, secure, and reliable platform. Teams can manage their projects without the extensive IT infrastructure. This makes it an ideal choice for startups and smaller teams. Cloud provides an easy setup and intuitive maintenance.

On the other hand, Jira Data Center is a more self-managed solution. It allows organizations to host Jira on their own infrastructure. They can also do it through providers like AWS and Azure. This option is tailored for larger enterprises with complex requirements. It offers extensive customization and control over the environment. With Jira Data Center, businesses can bring their existing IT resources to optimize performance. They can also ensure compliance with specific regulatory standards.

The functionalities of the Cloud and Data Center are crucial deciding factors. Let’s compare the most important ones to help you make the right choice. 

In the Cloud hosting, you don’t manage the infrastructure. It’s hosted by Atlassian. Atlassian also handles updates and maintenance for you. When it comes to configuration, Cloud has a more user-friendly interface than Data Center. Cloud is also the only hosting that supports team-managed projects. All these features make the Cloud the best choice for startups or less advanced users.

Data Center, on the other hand, requires more technical knowledge. The hosting can only be customized through a data pipeline. It requires having your hardware, software, and IT resources. It makes the upfront costs higher than in the Cloud. Nevertheless, the Data Center still allows easy integration with other tools to optimize work. What’s more, the Data Center provides priority schemes and a custom field optimizer. It means the hosting gives you extensive customization options that Cloud can’t. You also get full control over your environment and data. 

In short, Jira Cloud configuration is handled by Atlassian. It offers a simplified setup process. It also has some limited customization options. Jira Data Center provides extensive configuration control. It allows you to tailor the system to specific needs. However, note that it requires more technical expertise and administrative effort.

Jira Cloud and Data Center offer slightly different automation and customization capabilities. The hosting gives you a user-friendly platform with built-in automation tools. It also includes project templates for the most popular use cases. It makes the Cloud suitable for teams seeking an intuitive approach.

However, for organizations needing greater control, a Data Center might be a better choice. It excels with its support for custom scripting. It also has advanced board customization. While both versions offer core features, Data Center provides more extensive options. It includes tailoring issue types, workflows, and permissions to specific business requirements. 

Take a look at the table for more detailed information about features: 

Now, let’s move on to the question of user experience in both hosting. 

Jira Cloud has a clear interface. Atlassian constantly works to improve the user experience. In contrast, Jira Data Center offers a more traditional design. However, in its case, you can benefit from extensive customization capabilities.

Jira Cloud supports UX with automatic updates, intuitive navigation, and extra features. Data Center provides greater customization options. Nevertheless, it requires more administrative effort. While it gives you flexibility, it may lag in terms of feature updates and ease of use. 

For now, there are 6,000+ apps on the Atlassian Marketplace, out of which over 1,000 are Cloud Fortified. It gives Cloud users many extending possibilities. The hosting integrates with Opsgenie, Jira Align, and Jira Work Management. By this, Cloud assures efficient project management and ITSM processes.

Data Center requires additional setup when it comes to JSM, Opsgenie, and Confluence. With plugins, Atlassian tools can match the individual needs of different industries. For the Data Center, there are only slightly fewer available apps. However, it still may be an obstacle for some businesses. 

The table below illustrates potential integration scenarios for both hosting options.  

Briefly, offers pre-built integrations with popular tools. It provides seamless connectivity with apps and ease of use. On the contrary, Jira Data Center requires more custom setup for integrations.

In Jira Cloud, you can manage the user accounts using Atlassian Guard. It allows you to manage authentication and security policies. It also offers affordability. By default, Cloud allows up to 50,000 users of Jira Software and a maximum of  20,000 users of Jira Service Management. This is also the case with storage. Standard Cloud file storage is 250 GB. Only Premium and Enterprise Cloud provide users with unlimited storage space.

Server admins can be more efficient in the Data Center. They can manage user accounts using product-by-product methods or with Atlassian Crowd. There’s no user limit in the Data Center. You store all files on the company’s infrastructure, so there aren’t any storage limits either. Data Center is a great choice for big corporations with a technical background and complex needs. 

Cloud only allows displaying audit logs, while the Data Center shows all types of logs. This can be a handy tool in helping you diagnose problems in Jira products. You can also use the feature for security purposes. When it comes to automation, DC admins can change limits for automation and bulk change. This feature significantly influences customization possibilities. 

Cloud allows building global and multi-project automation rules as well. However, it limits the number of executions. Let’s see how you calculate automation usage:

Here’s what it looks like for specific plans on Cloud: 

Performance is also a key factor in choosing the right hosting solution. The plus of Data Center is that its performance depends on your infrastructure. This means that it’s possible to adjust the performance to individual business needs. You can do it anytime by just tuning up your hardware. To improve instance stability in the Data Center, Jira limits the rate of REST API requests. It ensures that services are reliable and responsive to customers.

Are your teams distributed across the world? They probably deal with high latency when using Jira Software Data Center, or Jira Service Management Data Center. It’s possible to improve their experience by using a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

Atlassian Cloud has made performance improvements in 2024, focusing on speed and scalability. Atlassian manages the system to ensure quick response times. Users experience faster loading of pages, especially when viewing tasks. The Atlassian team improves Cloud performance regularly through automatic updates. The system adapts to user needs without manual adjustments. In a globally distributed teamwork environment, this ensures seamless collaboration. Cloud limits flexibility. Instead, its focus is on delivering optimal performance. 

Jira Cloud automatically supports performance. It delivers a faster experience. Cloud doesn’t require extra administrative work. In contrast, Jira Data Center offers greater control over performance settings. This hosting allows for optimization that can meet specific needs. However, this flexibility comes at the cost of increased IT involvement. 

When it comes to security on Cloud, Atlassian provides teams with a real-time system status. It immediately informs users about possible downtime or incidents. What’s more Atlassian’s Cloud has 14 data security and compliance certifications. They include ISO 27001, ISO 27018, GDPR, RODO, SOC 2, and SOC 3. 

In the Cloud hosting, Atlassian also handles backups. The platform automatically backs up your data on a regular basis. Atlassian defines the data retention policy as well. 

Using Cloud, you typically have limited control over restores, relying on Atlassian’s support. Not being able to recover their own data, often makes users question the system’s security. To further improve security measures for Cloud, Atlassian introduced Guard.

Atlassian Guard is a comprehensive security platform designed to protect Atlassian Cloud environments. It combines Atlassian Access and Atlassian Beacon into a single solution. Thanks to this, organizations can control who has access to their sensitive data. 

Guard uses machine learning for threat detection. It identifies and responds to potential security breaches. This proactive approach helps organizations reduce risks and protect their digital assets.

Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, Guard offers the protection you need to keep your data safe.

Data security is a strength of Data Center. Thanks to on-premise hosting, you can meet compliance, governance, and legal restrictions. The customization allows you to hide sensitive data behind the firewall.

Keep in mind that when it comes to the Data Center, you’re responsible for implementing backup strategies. Your team can control the frequency and duration of backups. You also have full control over restoring processes and security measures.

Below, you can take a look at the comparisom table. It compares native security features of both hosting. The table includes Atlassian Guard functionalities for Cloud. 

In essence, Cloud prioritizes ease of use with automated security features. On the other hand, Data Center offers maximum control over your security environment.

With Cloud Premium and Enterprise products, Atlassian includes a Service Level Agreement (SLA). The SLA guarantees 99.90% uptime for Premium and 99.95% uptime for Enterprise products. If a client encounters issues that don’t meet the guarantee, it’s possible to submit a request for compensation. It takes the form of credits for the next bill.

Jira Data Center needs your IT team to manage it. Atlassian offers support for additional costs, but companies often handle most things themselves. This includes setting up to run smoothly or deciding how quickly to respond to problems. The organization also needs to create its own support channels. You’ll also need to train employees, write help guides, and decide about SLAs. 

To sum up, Jira Cloud offers full support and increasing benefits. In this case, Atlassian provides all the necessary resources. Jira Data Center requires internal support teams for most functions. While customization is high, it requires a significant investment.

First, let’s break off the aspects that impact the final pricing of both hostings. When it comes to Cloud, there are five main components:

In the case of this hosting, no infrastructure is needed. This is what mostly differentiates Cloud from Data Center. Costs of DC hosting, on the other hand, depend on: 

After analyzing these pricing factors, the question that comes to mind is: so when does it pay off? 

Cloud Standard is the most popular choice amongst companies with under 400 employees. It’s also free for less than 10 users and 3 agents. Atlassian Cloud Enterprise works well when a project needs several separate instances and has over 800 users. Cloud doesn’t require having the server or even a qualified Jira admin. Additionally, Cloud licensing is more flexible. It’s a smart choice for dynamic businesses.

Cloud’s price is below the mid-end of the Data Center price range. Data Center is recommended for corporations with over 5,000 users. Moreover, DC fulfills the need for advanced work planning tools (such as Advanced Roadmaps). It also provides teams with asset management (Insight\Insight Discovery).  

As you can see, Jira Cloud is often the more budget-friendly option. It makes it suitable for smaller and mid-sized businesses. Jira Data Center has a higher overall cost, but it’s a better choice for large organizations with complex requirements. You can get a personalized cost estimate here. 

80% of Fortune 500 companies rely on Cloud. Server and Data Center Atlassian customers are also rapidly migrating to Cloud hosting. On top of that, the majority of new customers choose Cloud first. Why is this hosting so popular? Several advantages may result from this choice.

Cloud eliminates manual software upgrades and maintenance. Thanks to this, the hosting lowers the total cost of ownership. Moreover, Cloud provides real-time security updates and Atlassian experts’ services. They can help you keep data safe.

In times of remote work, Cloud seems to be the perfect choice. The hosting makes it possible to organize a globally distributed teamwork environment. It provides products that can be safely used from any browser, with no need for a VPN. It enables companies to work in Agile methodology by continuously improving. Additionally, Enterprise Cloud provides users with scalable and secure solutions. It makes it tailored for large organizations.

Before migrating to Cloud, the first thing we need to do is audit a product or service. Only then, we assess your requirements and Atlassian products and decide if Cloud migration is right for you. The second step is test migration. At Deviniti, we plan test migration together with our customers. Performing tests serves to prepare as much as possible for the actual production migration. We gather all knowledge from the process and create a runbook with all possible “what if” scenarios. By this, we make sure that production migration will be safe. In the end, we provide our clients with post-live support and management services.

Atlassian Partners make migration to the Data Center easy with flexible migration tools. But before you decide, weigh up the pros and cons of Data Center.

Sometimes company requirements can prevent business owners from choosing Cloud. Legal rules can force companies to use Data Center. For example, finance firms often need to keep data in-house. This requirement can only be met by a self-managed Data Center environment.

The second, equally important reason is whether a business can afford the downtime. For instance, a company can have advanced process needs (scripts/automation, planning). Only the Data Center enables clustering for high availability. 

Data Center offers enhanced reliability and performance for large-scale Atlassian setups. With features like application clustering, WebSockets support, and load balancing, you can handle increased user loads and maintain optimal performance. This is why the Data Center is usually recommended for companies with more than 5,000 users.

Migrating to a Data Center requires preparation. Before switching from Server or Cloud, check if you have licenses that will work with the Data Center. Ensure all your apps are compatible as well. Verify whether it’s possible to adjust your current solutions to the new hosting. Last but not least, check if you have a shared network (e.g. NFS). Only then you be able to fully benefit from the advantages of a Data Center.

Jira Cloud is perfect for smaller software teams or startups. Unlike in Data Center Jira, you don’t need to worry about IT maintenance. Atlassian takes care of all that for you. What else characterizes this hosting? 

Cloud makes it possible to maintain all data on Atlassian’s infrastructure. Hosting requires having an individual Atlassian account. Users can set up the account personally or ask one of Atlassian’s Partners to do it. 

The hostings’ functionalities make it easy and intuitive to manage. Even inexperienced users can quickly figure out what it’s about. Automatic fixes and updates ensure that the team always works on up-to-date software.

Atlassian provides Cloud users with special security features along with data storage space. We usually recommend Cloud for the majority of organizations, especially for startups and growing businesses. This type of hosting is responsive to dynamic changes. 

The Atlassian account comes with an internal SMPT server. This server doesn’t have multiple customization features, but it is still sufficient for most businesses. Cloud doesn’t require a complicated installation process. Software like Jira, Confluence, Jira Service Management, etc., are ready for setup in just a few minutes.

Cloud is also very comfortable when it comes to working remotely. The stored information is available for the team members from wherever they work. The Atlassian account integrates easily with G Suite, Microsoft Azure Active Directory, Okta, and OneLogin.

The Data Center ensures the highest level of operational performance. This hosting model is perfect for businesses with a great number of projects and users. By choosing this model, the client obtains scale and performance. It enables you to develop products in even the largest organizations. The Data Center enables clustering, which enhances processing capacity and reliability.

Data Center also guarantees absolute data isolation and security. It requires storing data on a company-managed server. However, you can also check out the offer of Atlassian services providers. 

Data Center distinguishes itself by providing the best quality to growing enterprises. The hosting allows using Jira as a mission-critical application and remains unaffected. Even in case of serious obstacles, the Data Center offers special Disaster Recovery services. They cover products like Jira Software, Jira Service Management, Confluence, and Bitbucket.

The Data Center model has many customization possibilities through APIs. Because of this, you can tailor the tool to the company’s unique needs. There are also many plugins available for Data Center on the Atlassian Marketplace. They allow you to extend Jira Data Center native options and make it more user-friendly. 

Choosing the right Jira hosting is crucial. Scroll back to the comparison table. Consider your team size, data security needs, budget, and technical expertise. Cloud offers flexibility and ease of use, while Data Center provides full control.