PetrolPlaza Special Cloud-based solutions: XPetro manages your service stations and distribution in a hybrid cloud

A cloud solution which perfectly matches the changing needs of your company.

No doubt you have heard about ‘working in the cloud’, ‘cloud computing’ and ‘cloud solutions’. But do you also know the various options? Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of a private and public cloud? And what added value a hybrid cloud offers to your company? ICASA puts the different options next to each other and explains how it manages your downstream activities centrally with its back- and head-office cloud solutions.

On-premise
Companies that choose an on-premise model, store their data internally and manage everything themselves. In this case, as a company, you have control over all systems and data but you also have to arrange for maintenance and support yourself, which of course can have a serious impact on (smaller) companies with limited IT-staff. In addition, the initial investment in an on-premise solution is rather high which is not feasible for everyone.

Advantages cloud solutions
The introduction of the cloud opened a whole new world. Companies were given the opportunity to manage their IT-infrastructure in the cloud, which entails a lot of advantages. But what is the appropriate cloud solution for your company: a public, a private or even a hybrid cloud?

Public cloud offers a shared infrastructure
A public cloud is an off-site shared infrastructure which is owned and managed by an external party (provider). This solution is particularly suitable for small to medium sized companies, precisely because of the very low upfront investment costs. No need to invest in systems and their maintenance. This is all handled by the external 3rd party. As a company you only pay for what you use (the so-called ‘pay-as-you-go’ model). Due to the flexible storage offered by the public clouds, you can easily and quickly scale in function of the varying needs.

Private cloud
When you choose a private cloud, you get an infrastructure that is used exclusively for your company. You can host it in your headquarters (on-premise) and manage all your service stations from there or in a data center of your service provider. A private cloud is especially suitable for larger companies or companies with stringent data security requirements. Whereas a public cloud has a universal infrastructure, in a private cloud the infrastructure can much easier be adapted to the specific IT-needs of your company.

Best of both worlds
Because a “one-size-fits-all” doesn't exist and the needs of your company may vary in time, XPetro allows you to manage your fuel stations in a hybrid cloud. This cloud solution combines the advantages of both public and private cloud and offers you the flexibility to create a solution which perfectly matches your changing needs and wishes.