Comparison of Exchange Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Online

This guide presents a detailed comparison between Exchange Server Subscription Edition (Exchange Server SE) and Exchange Online, focusing on their respective features, benefits, and suitability for organizations. It outlines the key differences in hosting modes, maintenance responsibilities, licensing structures, running costs, security and compliance measures, data ownership, scalability, feature updates, customization options, integration capabilities, availability, and disaster recovery strategies. The document specifies when to choose Exchange Server SE, emphasizing its advantages for organizations requiring full control over their email infrastructure and those operating under strict data residency constraints. Conversely, it describes Exchange Online as ideal for organizations seeking hassle-free IT management, scalability, and seamless integration with Microsoft 365 applications. The conclusion reinforces that the choice between the two options should align with an organization’s specific security, compliance, and IT management preferences.