As workplaces around the world continue to stay deserted due to COVID-19, a lean IT department has become a hot discussion point in the boardroom. CIOs and CTOs are looking for new cloud migration solutions for their enterprise software such as Redmine. It would empower geographically dispersed developers to collaborate through remote work on an optimized budget.
Redmine is one such open-source software that powers Fortune 500 giants such as IKEA, IBM, Toyota, and many more.
Key Benefits of a Hosted Solution
Hosted software has disrupted traditional (on-premise) IT infrastructure models. You get secure, reliable, any-time access without having to worry about maintenance of servers and other networking hardware.
Here are the key reasons CTOs continue to transition into a hosted or SaaS Redmine model and stay ahead of the game in 2021:
Lower cost of ownership
Owning IT infrastructure requires a hefty capital investment. Additionally, you have to provision a fixed expenditure to ensure its maintenance, irrespective of the extent to which you use it. Cloud-based software considerably lowers your Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Advanced infrastructure
Cloud computing solutions are available in customizable packages and deliver end-to-end solutions. Along with the software, you get security, reliability, flexibility, support, and much more. Setting up all these on your own overshoots costs and causes avoidable distraction.
Time and resource optimization
Hosted solutions can get your Redmine infrastructure up and running in a matter of days (or even hours!). They are built on a plug-and-play model, so you no longer need to spend days strategizing, planning, securing approvals, buying, implementing, and validating before your teams can access on-premises Redmine.
Scalable project management
Modern-day businesses are nimble and want a flexible infrastructure they can scale up or down as and when required. Hosted Redmine can be scaled up in a matter of minutes, so whenever you want to expand your team, the infrastructure is there in no time.
Reliability and security
This is one of the biggest benefits of cloud-hosted Redmine. You can access it from anywhere and any computing device so long as you are connected to the Internet. Service providers keep their systems updated with the latest patches, so you do not need to worry about regular patching, updates, and maintenance.
Hosting Service Providers
There are many vendors providing varied services to choose from. There are three options for hosted Redmine: general hosting services, installers, and professional hostings. To save you the time and effort of researching them, we cover a selected few.
General Hosting Services
General hosting is good to start because it is the cheapest way to have hosted Redmine. That is why it is in favor among small teams: it covers the basic requirements and does not cost a fortune. The prices start at $2.50 per month and can grow with extended storage space and other additional features.
However, when buying a service in general hosting, you should be aware of the limitations. Usually they offer only core features with no extra plugins, no data migration services, no SLA on run time, and no backups in the basic plans. Many of them offer these options, but for extra money. Besides, most of them are located and available only in North America. Here is a brief list of the most widely used general hosting services.
Redmine Pro Hosting Providers
The Redmine native version is available free of cost and is easy to install. However, modern IT infrastructure demands rapid upgrades, ready-to-install plugins, and dedicated support. Redmine professional hosting is a worthy investment, as it provides many more organizational features to elevate project management. You can integrate accounting, invoicing, budgeting, ticketing, and everything else your project uses to track the big picture.
Redmine Pro hosting services are available through a number of providers at competitive rates. Let us have a look at how to go about comparing them.
CTOs and CIOs are spoiled for choices when it comes to selecting a partner for migrating their on-premise Redmine to the cloud. Here are the top ones along with their pros and cons:
RedmineUP Cloud
The platform was conceptualized and developed by a group of enthusiastic professionals located across the globe who know Redmine customization like the backs of their hands. This is a premium offering, used by the likes of Cisco, Bosch, Samsung, and NASA. Create a free trial account for firsthand experience!
Pros:
- Easy to learn and use
- Fully managed, SaaS infrastructure
- Timely updates free of risks
- High uptime and security
- 17 professioanal plugins such as Agile, Helpdesk
- Account manager
- Integration with GIT and other contemporary requirements
Plan.io
It offers an unrivalled interface, together with a rich list of themes, plugins, and customizations that make it a top Redmine hosting option. You get enterprise-level support that will get you through most of your glitches in no time at all. They offer a free trial to get you started.
Pros:
- Excellent security
- High uptime of over 99.9%
- Seamless integrations with GitHub, SVN, and other applications
- Plugins for Agile, HelpDesk, Planio Storage, Pidoco, and much more
- Free forever bronze plan for small businesses, startups, and individuals
- GDPR-compliant
OpenProject
Though it is not entirely Redmine, OpenProject is a comprehensive project portfolio management solution. Cross-functional enterprises, as well as non-profits, use it to track their projects through a single dashboard. There is a free community edition to get started with your project management.
Pros:
- On-premise and managed hosting solutions
- You get full control of your data.
- GDPR-compliant, excellent for EU businesses
- Top-level support
- Multiple support and training channels
EasyRedmine
EasyRedmine is an end-to-end solution that combines new mobile designs with top plugins. It transforms your project management experience and has ready-to-use plugins for Agile, Resources, CRM, HelpDesk, and other common methodologies like DevOps. There is a fully loaded free trial for 30 days with no obligations.
Pros:
- Stellar reputation, used by over 3000 businesses such as Ogilvy, Lenovo, and Bosch
- Highly recommended for metrics-driven organizations
- Rich training repository and knowledgeable support
- Flexible to adapt to different business functions and processes
- GDPR-compliant security
- Provides root access for full control
Conclusion
Redmine is offered in different flavors and packages, and it is a reliable complex solution supported by reputed cloud service providers. But it’s not an easy technology to support and maintain; that’s why we recommend opting for a vendor that addresses your requirements. While there are many things to keep in mind when looking for the best hosting option, we strongly advise to choose hosting from spesialised and professional teams.
