What is the Difference Between SharePoint and SharePoint Server?

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The main difference between SharePoint and SharePoint Server lies in their deployment and hosting models. Here are the key differences between the two:

  • Deployment: SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service provided by Microsoft, while SharePoint Server is an on-premises solution that your company owns and operates.
  • Hosting: With SharePoint Online, your business doesn't have to worry about servers, architecture, or resource management. It's a hosted solution, and you benefit from industry-standard security features and single sign-on. In contrast, SharePoint Server is installed on physical servers in your office or data center, and your organization is responsible for managing the infrastructure.
  • Licensing and Costs: SharePoint Server requires a license for each running instance on-premises, and a Client Access License (CAL) may also be required for each user or device to legally access services running in SharePoint Server. SharePoint Online is available through a subscription model, and licenses are charged per user.
  • Autonomy: SharePoint Server provides more control over your data and architecture, while SharePoint Online may limit your autonomy due to the cloud-based nature of the service.
  • Updates and Features: With SharePoint Online, updates and new features are managed by Microsoft. In contrast, SharePoint Server requires system administrators to perform maintenance, install security patches, and manage updates.
  • System Requirements and Infrastructure: SharePoint Server implementation requires organizations to install and manage a SharePoint farm, which includes web front-end, SQL, and application servers. SharePoint Online, on the other hand, does not require any on-premises infrastructure.

Ultimately, the choice between SharePoint Online and SharePoint Server depends on your organization's needs, requirements, and preferences in terms of control, hosting, and management.

Comparative Table: SharePoint vs SharePoint Server

Here is a table comparing SharePoint and SharePoint Server:

Feature SharePoint SharePoint Server
Site Templates Limited number of site templates Many site templates available, including custom templates
Content Creation Content created within site collections Content created within authoring site collections and displayed on publishing site collections
Navigation Managed navigation available Site navigation derived from tightly managed navigation
Design Customization Site layouts, themes, and colors Unique welcome page, other pages, and master pages
Database Support SQL Server system databases Uses SQL Server databases, including system databases and Project Web App databases
Data Modification Modify data in tables Cannot modify data in SQL views

Please note that the information provided is based on the available search results, which do not provide a direct comparison between SharePoint and SharePoint Server. The table above highlights some differences in features and functionality between the two.