Databases are the digital backbone of a company. From email servers to large data storage, many applications repeatedly access the database. Cloud-based software solutions - which include databases - have been used for every second company now. IT managers must decide according to the needs of which IT landscape components to outsource to the cloud. This is especially true for databases. In this article, we show you why databases are operated useful in the cloud and what must be considered.
What is Service (DBaaS)?
Database as a Service as one of the cloud technology services is about structured data storage and management. DBaaS is a managed service. This service provides access to one or more databases over the network. In addition, DBaaS usually provides other functions, such as. For example, for database monitoring, data backup, and data analysis. As a rule, relational database systems such as MySQL from Oracle are used.
Benefits: Why is the database in the cloud?
What if database management and storage is a problem? When an IT manager from a company finds out what is suffered by the reliability and security of the entire system? Excessive demands are often detected late during surgery. Managing, maintaining, and securing database servers is very demanding and time-consuming. The required knowledge must be purchased through appropriate training actions. Coupled with this is a security problem: data that is lost or goes into the wrong hands can threaten the existence of the business.
Here DBaaS offers good support. If all database management is in the hands of experienced DBaaS providers, this means high security and high-quality data management. The big advantage of this is that data processing applications remain the same - it's just that they no longer access the company's database servers, but rather host data sources in the cloud, where they are available through the appropriate interface in one or more data centers secured with well.
5 Benefits of Database as a Service
Especially for larger companies, cloud computing offers the possibility of storage consolidation, because databases can be grouped together from several departments into one cloud-based database system.
Other main benefits:
- Cost savings - Provision of DBaaS providers eliminates server operating costs and storage systems. Access to storage capacity is through an encrypted Internet connection; Only services that are truly provided in the pay per use procedure will be charged.
- Low administration efforts - DBaaS service providers ensure patches and update management and backup data at multiple storage locations. Customers no longer have to worry about maintaining, maintaining, and updating database infrastructure.
- Scalability - DBaaS providers offer database servers of various sizes for all possible performance requirements. Customers can choose between low-cost standard storage systems or high-performance SSD volumes for strong database applications. Processor performance and storage resources can be measured freely in just a few steps and can be quickly adjusted to higher requirements.
- Increased agility - The DBaaS system can be easily combined with PaaS solutions. This allows newly developed business applications to be easily tested and used immediately.
- Reliability - Continuous availability of database systems is a basic requirement for satisfied DBaaS customers. For this reason alone, DBaaS providers attach great importance to proactive monitoring with automatic failure detection and constant database backup - if necessary, the exchange of damaged disk hardware is immediately carried out. In addition, DBaaS providers pay attention to the highest reliability of Internet connections.
Risk - what to look for in DBaaS
Apart from all the high availability and security aspects guaranteed by DBaaS providers for themselves, residual risk can never be completely ruled out for customers - but at a far lower level than the data operations and data management systems themselves. However, some weaknesses should not be ignored. It is also possible to access web-based databases to remote data centers resulting in increased latency. As a result, users can lose performance compared to proprietary database systems. And important business data is no longer stored at home, but on foreign infrastructure, is also a source of particular concern. Depending on the provider, data can also be found in data centers abroad. Here, it is important to pay attention to compliance with strict privacy policies and compliance requirements when concluding contracts.