If you’re running enterprise applications, you might be facing a common dilemma: cloud solutions offer great features, but regulatory constraints and data sovereignty laws might prevent you from using them fully. In fact, about 60% of enterprises struggle with this exact problem. While cloud computing delivers scalability and convenience, your organization might require on-premises or hybrid deployments to meet specific requirements.
MongoDB Atlas has become popular as a fully managed cloud database service, offering excellent features for cloud environments. But what if you work in a highly regulated or security-sensitive industry? Atlas’s cloud-first approach creates real challenges when you need to deploy databases on-premises or in hybrid configurations to comply with GDPR, HIPAA, or other strict regulations.
This post addresses your potential need for on-premises and hybrid alternatives to MongoDB Atlas. We’ll look at the limitations you might face with Atlas’s cloud-only approach, the compliance, control, and cost challenges you could encounter, and how you can find flexible solutions that provide the security, scalability, and operational flexibility your business needs.
Why businesses seek on-premises alternatives to MongoDB Atlas
MongoDB Atlas provides powerful cloud capabilities, but your organization might face specific requirements that a cloud-only solution simply can’t address. If you’re dealing with compliance issues, need greater control, or require more flexibility, you might be considering on-premises or hybrid alternatives for good reason:
Regulatory compliance
Picture this: Your healthcare application handles protected patient information, or your financial service manages sensitive customer data. GDPR, HIPAA, or industry regulations don’t just suggest—they demand that this data stays on your servers or within specific geographic boundaries. Cloud solutions might offer compliance features, but nothing beats the certainty of knowing exactly where your data lives and who can access it.
Control over infrastructure
Your applications have unique needs that don’t fit neatly into cloud-provider templates. Perhaps you’ve optimized your infrastructure over years with specific configurations, security protocols, or integrations with legacy systems. On-premises deployments let you maintain these customizations without compromise, giving you performance predictability that cloud services sometimes can’t guarantee.
Strategic flexibility
Your business doesn’t operate in just one environment—you’re running workloads across private data centers, multiple cloud providers, and edge locations. A cloud-only database strategy creates silos, complicates your architecture, and limits your ability to shift workloads as needs change. You need database solutions that work consistently wherever you deploy them.
If these scenarios sound familiar, you need solutions that provide advanced features without forcing you to compromise on control, compliance, or deployment flexibility. But there’s another critical factor to consider: what happens to your budget when you try to adapt MongoDB Atlas to meet these on-premises and hybrid requirements?
Cost and flexibility challenges of MongoDB Atlas for on-premises and hybrid needs
When you try to use MongoDB in on-premises or hybrid environments, you’ll likely run into roadblocks that affect both your infrastructure plans and your budget.
High fees and restrictive licensing
Want to deploy MongoDB in your own data center? You’ll need to purchase MongoDB Enterprise Advanced—and brace yourself for the price tag. These licensing fees can strain your budget, especially if you’re managing large deployments or working with limited funds. Beyond just the cost, you’ll find yourself restricted by licensing terms that dictate how and where you can use the software, limiting your ability to adapt as your needs change.
Unpredictable hidden costs
Even if you stick with Atlas in the cloud, the bill might shock you at the end of the month. What starts as a predictable base cost can quickly grow with charges for data transfer, scaling resources, and must-have features like backups and monitoring. These unexpected costs make financial planning difficult and can force tough decisions about which features you can actually afford to use.
Vendor lock-in
MongoDB Atlas is a proprietary DBaaS with strict terms of service that limit how you can modify, deploy, and integrate the software. Because Atlas is a fully managed service, you’re locked into MongoDB’s infrastructure, making it difficult to move to an on-premises or hybrid environment without significant effort and cost.
However, there is a solution…
Looking at these challenges, you need a better alternative—one that gives you deployment options, transparent pricing, and enterprise features without limitations. Percona offers exactly that.
Percona for MongoDB is the on-premise, hybrid, and cloud solution
Percona provides secure, scalable, and cost-efficient database management wherever you need it. With open source and source-available solutions, you get:
Freedom to deploy your way
Put your databases where they work best for you—in your data center, your preferred cloud, or across environments. Meet your regulatory requirements and adapt to changing business needs without vendor restrictions.
Enterprise features without premium pricing
Access advanced database functionality without the price tag. Percona includes essential enterprise features out of the box, such as:
- Security enhancements: Encryption, role-based access control (RBAC), and audit logging to protect your data and meet compliance standards.
- Backup and recovery: Reliable backup solutions ensure your data is safe and can be recovered efficiently.
- Monitoring and performance tools: Integrated monitoring helps you optimize performance and maintain high availability.
Transparent and predictable pricing
No hidden fees or unexpected expenses. Every enterprise feature is included upfront, making budget planning straightforward and eliminating financial surprises.
Seamless integration and multi-cloud flexibility
Integrates with AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and private clouds, supporting true multi-cloud strategies:
- Kubernetes ready: Automate deployments across all environments with Percona Operators
- Hybrid synchronization: Keep data consistent between on-premises and cloud databases
By supporting a wide range of deployment scenarios and integrating with leading cloud platforms, Percona empowers you to optimize costs, enhance resilience, and comply with regulatory requirements—all within a unified database solution.
Expert support, tailored to your needs
Percona’s flexible support agreements provide expert assistance when and where you need it. Whether through managed services, consulting, or 24/7 support, Percona ensures your databases remain secure, optimized, and reliable—all at a fraction of the cost of proprietary alternatives.
The power of flexibility with Percona
You need a database solution that adapts to your requirements—not the other way around. While MongoDB Atlas locks you into cloud-only deployments with unpredictable costs, Percona gives you a better option.
With Percona for MongoDB, you get a versatile platform that works in any environment, complete with enterprise features, transparent pricing, and strong security. You can meet compliance requirements, boost performance, and grow without restrictions or surprise expenses.
When you need flexibility and control over your database strategy, Percona gives you the tools and freedom to succeed on your terms.
Before committing to another term with MongoDB, it’s crucial to reassess whether the solution continues to align with your organization’s needs. Based on discussions with IT leaders who’ve used MongoDB—including those who ultimately decided to switch—here are the 10 critical questions to consider before renewing your MongoDB license:
10 Questions to Ask Before Renewing Your MongoDB License
