The world of IT has changed dramatically. What used to be a standard fixture in the server room is now located somewhere on the internet. Whether it’s Adobe, Microsoft, Google or Apple, many tech giants have phased out their on-premises solutions in recent years. Instead of independent operation on their own servers, the norm is now subscription models, cloud dependency, data migration or data loss – often against the companies’ wishes.

No choice anymore – software available only as a cloud subscription

In 2013, Adobe encouraged its users to switch to Creative Cloud. Microsoft has adopted a ‘cloud first’ approach and prioritises Microsoft 365 when it comes to support and features. Even image and media tools such as Picasa, Aperture and Portfolio have been discontinued. Anyone who wants to remain productive has to move to the cloud.

The result is clear. Companies are losing control. Updates arrive unsolicited. Prices are rising. Sensitive data is inadvertently transferred abroad, bringing with it security concerns, hacking scandals, legal uncertainty, dependency and reduced performance.

But there is another way… Spotlight fylr and DAMlivery

Not all cloud services are the same. With fylr, you decide for yourself whether to store your DAM data on-premises or in German data centres in compliance with the GDPR. DAMlivery delivers your assets directly, quickly, efficiently and without bulk exports. The system is not tied to any particular manufacturer and works with various DAM systems. It operates like Zapier, but here in Germany and exclusively for images and videos, as well as their metadata.

Can’t access the communication?

A high-profile case before the European Court of Justice illustrates just how vulnerable the cloud can be. According to AP News, access to emails was unavailable for a considerable period of time: https://apnews.com/article/icc-trump-sanctions-karim-khan-court-a4b4c02751ab84c09718b1b95cbd5db3. There have been no official comments, yet the question remains:

What can you do if your internet service provider goes down?

What if a head of state ‘pulls the plug’?

With traditional cloud models, businesses are dependent on the availability of external infrastructure, which is often beyond their control.

With fylr, you have a choice: 100% on-premises or hosted by us via OHV (ovhcloud.com) in Germany. You decide for yourself how much risk you are willing to take on and how much of the infrastructure you want to manage yourself. DAMlivery complements fylr with intelligent distribution: assets are made available in different formats, in high resolution for print materials, or in small, optimised versions for regions with poor broadband coverage.

Empty image boxes = empty web pages = lost customers

A DAM system is not an ERP. But if 100% of your campaign assets are stored in the DAM and suddenly no images appear on the website, it will cost you in terms of conversions and trust. This quickly becomes expensive and is difficult to rectify in the long term.

No DAM = No content = No performance

Many companies underestimate just how critical media delivery is. If the DAM or cloud infrastructure goes down, the website suddenly goes blank. Online shops without product images, landing pages in campaigns without headers – and users notice immediately, with traffic taking a hit. Trust in the brand is severely damaged, even during short-term outages

DAMlivery does not deliver your images as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, but in exactly the resolution required, tailored to the end device – as URLs, directly from your DAM system. Images are transferred with such high performance that minimal loading times are guaranteed, even with a poor connection. If the DAM is temporarily unavailable, DAMlivery takes over as a backup.

Conclusion: The cloud is great, if you’re allowed to use it.

There are many excellent cloud solutions available. However, there are companies whose data, for various reasons, cannot be stored in just any cloud. It is important to us to find the best solution for you, and for some companies, that solution is a hybrid approach. The benefits of the cloud, without losing control.

With fylr and DAMlivery, you retain control over your data. You benefit from efficient media delivery with maximum flexibility, without having to rely on the black box of large providers.

We keep your digital sovereignty in mind.