Primarily there are three ways to use Jira, each with its own benefits:

• Cloud
• Server
• Data Center

To get started quickly, you can use the Cloud deployment option where you just need to sign up online and you can be up-and-running with your Jira instance within a few minutes. There's no installation required when using Cloud deployment. After signing up for Jira on the Cloud, just create your users. Your Jira instance can be accessed by a unique link that can be shared among your team.

• Atlassian sets up and hosts the instance
• There's no server, no storage, and no maintenance

Jira deployed on the Cloud can always be migrated to the server version; it also depends on what apps you're using and whether the app data supports the migration from Cloud to server.

If you want to set up and install Jira on your own server running on premise, then you can download the Jira setup files and do the installation as per your needs. In terms of functionality, the server version of the application is more or less the same as the Cloud version:

• You set up and host the instance
• You manage the installation
• You maintain the instance

Jira installed on the Server can also be migrated to the cloud. An important thing to keep in mind is support for the app data.

This is targeted at, and suitable for, big enterprise deployments of Jira. It's basically the Server version of Jira but installed on multiple nodes. The main benefits of Data Center deployment are high availability, disaster recovery, and scalability. This deployment is recommended if your organisation can't afford any downtime of Jira and it's mission-critical for your business.