Tools: Getting Started with AEM: On-Prem vs AEM Cloud (In Simple Terms)

So, What is AEM? ## Where Do Companies Use AEM? ## AEM On-Prem vs AEM Cloud – Let’s Talk Reality ## AEM On-Prem (Traditional Way) ## AEM Cloud (Modern Way) ## High-Level Comparison (Quick View) ## Core AEM Building Blocks (Common Everywhere) ## AEM Sites – Where Pages Are Built ## AEM Forms – When Data Matters ## AEM Content & Assets – One Central Content Hub ## Apache Sling – How URLs Talk to Content ## Jackrabbit JCR – The Content Brain ## Apache Felix – Why AEM Is Modular ## On-Prem vs Cloud – Operational View ## So… Which One Should You Choose? ## Final Thoughts If you’ve ever worked in large enterprises, you’ve probably heard people say: “Our website runs on AEM.” But what exactly is AEM? And what’s the difference between AEM On-Prem and AEM as a Cloud Service? Let’s break it down — no heavy jargon, just how things actually work. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a platform that helps companies: A powerful content engine that sits between business users and developers. AEM is usually chosen when: You’ll commonly see AEM in: With On-Prem, you own almost everything: It gives control, but also responsibility. With AEM as a Cloud Service: You focus on content and code, not servers. No matter where AEM runs, the core ideas stay the same. AEM Sites is what marketing teams live in. Developers build components. Authors assemble pages. AEM Forms is used when you need more than just content. AEM isn’t just pages. It’s also about content reuse. With AEM Assets (DAM): This is where AEM gets interesting. Apache Sling maps URLs directly to content stored in AEM. URL → Controller → View URL → Content → Script Behind the scenes, AEM stores everything in a JCR (Java Content Repository). It’s not a traditional database. A tree-structured content store optimized for content, not tables. AEM runs on Apache Felix (OSGi). Developers love this because: You deploy features, not monoliths. Choose AEM On-Prem if: AEM is not just a CMS. It’s a content platform powered by: And while On-Prem still exists, AEM Cloud is clearly the future. Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Are you sure you want to hide this comment? It will become hidden in your post, but will still be visible via the comment's permalink. Hide child comments as well For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse COMMAND_BLOCK: Root --> Content --> Site --> Page --> Component Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode COMMAND_BLOCK: Root --> Content --> Site --> Page --> Component COMMAND_BLOCK: Root --> Content --> Site --> Page --> Component - Build websites - Manage content - Create forms - Store and reuse digital assets - Deliver consistent experiences across channels - Websites are large and complex - Multiple teams update content - Performance and security really matter - Content needs to be reused across brands or regions - Banking & Finance - Media companies - Government portals - Availability - Adobe manages infrastructure - Scaling happens automatically - Updates are continuous - CI/CD is built in - Drag-and-drop components - Editable templates - Multi-language support - Multi-site management - Bank application forms - Insurance claims - Government submissions - Adaptive forms - Secure data handling - Images, videos, PDFs live in one place - Metadata & tagging help discovery - Assets can be reused across sites - Configurations - User permissions - Everything is a bundle - Services can be updated independently - No full server restart needed - Choose AEM On-Prem if: You need full infra control You have legacy dependencies Compliance restricts cloud usage - You need full infra control - You have legacy dependencies - Compliance restricts cloud usage - Choose AEM Cloud if: You want faster releases You prefer less operational work You’re building modern digital experiences - You want faster releases - You prefer less operational work - You’re building modern digital experiences - You need full infra control - You have legacy dependencies - Compliance restricts cloud usage - You want faster releases - You prefer less operational work - You’re building modern digital experiences - Apache Sling - Enterprise workflows