If your business works with digital assets, there’s a good chance your outdated management tools just aren’t coping anymore. You know you need to find a better way to manage your data and a DAM seems to be the answer—but you’re concerned.
How secure is confidential information in the cloud anyway? Plus, how much more will your data cost to store as your library grows? And that’s assuming you can even access it if your internet connection isn’t quite up to scratch.
Thankfully, there’s a fast, secure, and reliable solution at your disposal: an on-premise DAM.
Let’s take a deep dive into the world of digital asset management to explore how an on-premise DAM system saves you time and money, keeps your data secure, and gives you complete control of your assets.
Key Takeaways
- On-prem DAM offers lasting value with stronger data control, security, and reliability. Meanwhile, cloud DAM may provide flexibility but comes with ongoing data privacy risks and unpredictable costs.
- On-prem DAM is an ideal solution for companies that require full data protection to ensure legal compliance, stable performance without Internet reliance, and long-term cost-efficiency.
- Daminion is the leading on-prem DAM solution that integrates smoothly with your corporate server, providing reliable ongoing support and a range of useful features to streamline your asset management workflow.
- While other DAM vendors phasing out on-prem solutions for costly, less secure cloud plans, Daminion remains committed to supporting its on-prem solution to provide reliable data control for businesses in regulated industries.
What is Digital Asset Management?
A digital asset management (DAM) solution is a centralized storage system for all your business’s digital assets. It allows your team to easily categorize, store, manage, and retrieve any type of digital media, for example:
In case you’re wondering why a DAM solution is so important, this may put things into perspective: A McKinsey study showed that employees spend almost an entire day every week searching for and gathering information. Imagine what they could achieve with that time freed up to get their real work done!
A secure DAM solution also protects sensitive data and facilitates controlled access to information. This function is particularly important in industries where security and regulatory compliance are critical.
Now you know what a DAM system is, let’s explore the differences between local digital asset management and a cloud-based DAM solution.
On-Prem DAM vs. Cloud DAM: Understanding the Landscape
When deciding how (and where) to host your secure DAM solution, you have two main options: you can keep your DAM on-premise or host it in the cloud.
For more details on the pros and cons of local digital asset management, see here.
For our purposes now, let’s summarize the main differences between these choices.
On-Prem DAM System
On-prem DAM is a tried-and-true digital asset management solution that is hosted on a local company server, giving you full control over your data.
Ideal for your business if you:
- Prioritize Robust Data Security. With on-prem software, your sensitive data stays 100% within your organization, ensuring compliance with industry regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.). In contrast to Cloud solution, which relies on sometimes dubious third-party servers, on-prem DAM lets you decide who accesses your assets, how your assets are stored, and where they’re backed up.
- Require Fast and Reliable Performance. Since On-prem DAM acts as a light overlay over your existing file server, it prevents any performance slowdowns that are common among Cloud vendors. Moreover, you can instantly upload large files (think of high-res images, videos, 3D models, CAD files) with zero-dependency on the internet speed, which is especially useful if you don’t have a stable internet connection in your area.
- Need a Cost-Effective and Long-Term Solution. Would rather avoid an ever-increasing monthly subscription for a Cloud DAM? With on-prem, your digital library scales as you go, while keeping your costs predictable each month (and even saving you money over time!). Besides, DAM solutions like Daminion offer flexible pricing options to fit your team’s needs without breaking the bank.
Considerations:
- Potential Upfront Costs. Depending on your IT infrastructure, the installation costs can vary. However, the ROI of an on-prem solution still outweighs the “monthly savings” of a cloud subscription. If you’re concerned about establishing such an infrastructure on your own, some DAM vendors like Daminion offer extensive support throughout the entire deployment process, making installation smooth and cost-effective.
Get Your Free DAM Checklist
A concise checklist to help you assess if your organization requires a DAM.
Cloud-Based DAM System
Cloud DAM is an online counterpart of an on-prem solution that hosts your digital assets on its own or, most often, on third-party servers. White it offers file accessibility, it also comes with security risks, performance limitations, and unpredictable costs.
Can be suitable for your business if you:
- Need Remote Access to the Digital Library. If you work with external partners or geographically dispersed teams, a cloud solution could help organise all the work in one place. That said, security concerns are still high, especially when there are no version and permission controls.
| 💡Tip: Contrary to popular misconception, on-prem DAM software can also be accessed remotely. Discover how Daminion makes this a reality without compromising security. |
- Don’t Have Substantial Data Security Requirements. In case you don’t work in highly regulated industries, you might have a bit more wiggle room. However, relying on third-party providers can still pose a risk of potential data leaks and other complications for your business.
- Prefer to Pay Monthly Subscriptions. In some cases, companies might find recurring subscriptions more manageable, especially when operating under budget constraints. Keep in mind that cloud vendors frequently raise their subscription fees. So as your storage needs grow, long-term expenses can far exceed an on-prem investment like Daminion.
Considerations:
- High Internet Dependency. If you work in an area with a slow Internet connection, using a cloud DAM can quickly turn into a torture. First, uploading large files can take ages. Then, as you finally get to organize the files, an unexpected connection drop can wipe out the entire progress, forcing you to start over —a nightmare for fast-moving teams.
- Limited Data Control. Since your assets are stored on external servers, you lose the entire control over where or how your files are managed, leaving them at the mercy of the vendor’s security protocols and possible leaks. This can be a major issue if you are subject to regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or internal security policies.
- Unpredictable Subscription and Storage Costs. Many Cloud DAM software promise “scalability”, but that also applies to your expenses. Storage fees, API calls, bandwidth usage, and additional users all come at a cost, turning what seemed like an affordable solution into a financial burden in the long run.
Top 3 On-prem Digital Asset Management Systems to Choose in 2025
1. Daminion: A Trusted Leader in On-Prem DAM Solutions
While many DAM providers shift to cloud options only, Daminion remains committed to its clients’ needs, ensuring businesses have a reliable, secure, and cost-efficient on-prem solution that adapts to their needs — today and in the future.
Daminion is one of the leading on-prem DAM solutions on the market with over 20 years of experience in digital asset management. Serving more than 800 organizations worldwide, Daminion has been praised as a reliable, long-term solution for businesses that require security, performance, and complete data control.
These are just some of the advantages Daminion’s on-prem solution gives you:
- Native integration with your NAS or corporate file server. Works seamlessly with your existing corporate storage – no complex IT setup required.
- Intuitive, Windows-friendly interface, ensuring your team can get started right away.
- Support for over 500 different file formats, including large files like high-res images, videos, 3D models, CAD, etc.
- Powerful tagging and search features to quickly locate the files even in the large libraries of 10,000+ assets.
- More affordable pricing than cloud-based DAM systems, with no hidden fees.
| 💡Tip: Daminion on-prem offers many handy features, like Facial Recognition. Compared to Cloud DAM solutions, our feature is run 100 % locally, meaning your sensitive data stays private on your corporate server — never shared or sold. |
To find out how some of our many satisfied customers have benefited from implementing Daminion, read here.
Getting Started with Daminion
Experience Secure Multi-User Digital Asset Management!
Store, tag, search, and share media assets like never before ➡️
2. Extensis Portfolio
Extensis offers a secure DAM solution you can use out of the box or integrate with other business systems you may already have in place. The centralized filing system allows for searching, meta-tagging, and remote sharing.
These are some of Extensis Portfolio’s features:
- User-friendly interface, though some users might find it less intuitive.
- Embedded workflow automation.
- An AI-enabled image recognition tool that automatically adds keywords to files.
- A batch tagging option to save time and effort.
- Workflows that can be set up to automate metadata entry, approval processes, and archiving.
| ⚠️IMPORTANT UPDATE: Extensis Portfolio has recently canceled its on-premise subscription, leaving its on-prem clients in a difficult position. Daminion has welcomed many of these clients, offering a seamless migration process and assurance that its on-premise DAM system will be around for the long term. |
3. Canto Cumulus
Canto Cumulus is another DAM solution that helps to organize and distribute digital assets. Its advanced design particularly suitable for enterprise-level companies, making it less ideal choice for smaller teams.
- Customizable interface, but requires a steeper learning curve.
- Complex asset workflows more geared towards large enterprises.
- Advanced metadata management for tagging and filtering assets.
- Typically caters to enterprise-level organizations, which may reflect in its pricing.
| ⚠️IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of 2025, Canto Cumulus has discontinued its on-prem solution, forcing teams that relied on local deployments to either compromise their asset security with costly cloud subscription or scramble for alternative options. |
A Reliable Future for On-Prem Solutions
As we can see, the trend towards cloud-only DAM solutions continues to grow, leaving fewer and fewer options for businesses with strict security and compliance requirements.
Meanwhile, Daminion stands firm in its commitment to provide a comprehensive on-prem solution. Our ongoing support and innovation ensures your assets are organized efficiently and securely, while keeping your costs predictable — today and in the future.
Conclusion
A DAM solution helps you easily store, manage, and access all your digital media in one central place, saving your team time and effort and leaving them free to focus on more important things. And when it’s an on-premise DAM solution, rather than a cloud-based one, you get several extra benefits.
An on-prem DAM system offers fast and easy implementation, enhanced security, and full control of all your data and processes. With no need for internet access, your DAM is always available and data access is much faster. Most importantly, after your once-off software purchase, your only cost is maintaining your infrastructure, which saves you money and allows you to plan long-term.
All in all, a local digital asset management system is a powerful, cost-effective, and future-proof solution for any business—and Daminion is an excellent choice of provider.
To find out if a Daminion on-premise DAM system is the right solution for you, chat with one of our expert team members. We look forward to supporting your business into its brightest future.
Getting Started with Daminion
Experience Secure Multi-User Digital Asset Management!
Store, tag, search, and share media assets like never before ➡️
