The chances are, you’re familiar with what a database is: a system that’s used to store and organise data. But how about a cloud database, and is transitioning to a virtual solution right for you?
In this article, we’ve explored what a cloud database actually is, how a cloud database works (including how it can be integrated alongside other cloud services), and how to choose the best solution for your business.
An introduction to cloud databases
A cloud database is effectively a digital filing cabinet deployed and accessed within the cloud, that allows you to store and access data from anywhere in the world – so long as you have an internet connection.
Cloud databases are capable of storing and organising all kinds of data, including structured and unstructured data, and (as a result of being based within a cloud infrastructure) can typically be scaled depending on your requirements.
Types of cloud database
There are typically two categories of cloud database: relational and non-relational. Both have their benefits, and the key difference between the two is the type of data they’re capable of storing.
Relational cloud database
A relational cloud database is a digital data organisation system that allows you to store, organise, and manage all of your structured data – it’s what will likely come to mind when you first think of a database. Examples of relational cloud databases include Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL.
Within the database, all information is grouped and stored logically, and relationships between different data points are defined. This type of database is ideal if you’re handling complex structured data, with data retrieval highly reliable.
Non-relational cloud database
In contrast, non-relational cloud databases are a little more flexible, in that they can hold and manage multiple unstructured data types – without having to impose rigid structured or strict rules. Examples of non-relational cloud databases include MongoDB and Cassandra.
This database type earns its name because the relationship between data points isn’t defined, and you can instead store a diverse range of information without having to establish how it relates to other data. Examples of unstructured data you’d store in a non-relational cloud database include multimedia, documents, and text data.
Why should you consider a cloud database?
In short, cloud databases are essential for modern business processes, because of their ability to store, analyse, and manage vast amounts of data, with maximal reliability and efficiency.
What’s more, as well as effective storage and management, having a cloud database allows you to access information quickly and effectively, which empowers you to make data-driven decisions with speed, improve overall performance, and gain a competitive advantage.
With a high-powered cloud database, you’ll no longer have to commit significant time to complex data management and you can immediately leverage other cloud tools to maximise insights.
What are the benefits of cloud databases?
We’ve explored the overarching reasons to invest in a cloud database, but how about some of the specific advantages?
Security
It’s likely that one of your primary concerns when investing in any new software is data protection, so you’ll be very pleased to know that cloud databases are renowned for offering robust and advanced security processes.
As well as encrypting your data, cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft Azure regularly conduct security audits to ensure their systems are up to date with best-practices and are able to defend against cyber threats.
Scalability
Just as you’ll find with many other cloud services, cloud databases are flexible, and can be scaled to match and complement your fluctuating demands. With a few clicks, you can increase or decrease your database capabilities, ensuring optimum performance – which allows you to effectively handle seasonal variance (including expected peaks), as well as unexpected growth or decline.
This is in contrast to traditional databases, which can require significant investment and plenty of manual configuration (especially if you hadn’t forecasted growth or decline) – often leaving you with too much or too little resource.
Cost-effectiveness
Cloud databases are typically much more cost-effective than equivalent in-house solutions. For a start, you don’t need to invest in potentially-expensive hardware – with your cloud provider supplying the virtual platform – while the innate scalability that comes with cloud products means you’re unlikely to be spending more than you need, preventing unnecessary costs.
Finally, because your cloud provider handles platform and software maintenance, you can often reallocate internal costs for other business initiatives.
Reliability
You never know when you’ll need to access critical data, so a reliable database that you can navigate with ease is of utmost importance.
Based within the cloud and available from anywhere with an internet connection, you can enjoy uninterrupted access to your information wherever you are – without having to rely on in-house hardware. What’s more, cloud providers are continually developing advanced technology to further safeguard against downtime and disaster.
Simple management
Cloud databases are typically simpler to manage than traditional, on-premises solutions. This is because your cloud provider handles much of the infrastructure – including hardware maintenance and software patches. This often-hands-off approach requires minimal involvement from your IT team (though, of course, they may still be required for certain tasks!).
Business continuity
Working within a cloud environment means you’re largely protected against disaster, and you don’t have to worry about in-house hardware failures; data is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, and your cloud provider will manage the infrastructure for you. Additionally, cloud providers often offer automatic database back-up and data recovery features, so you can restore what-would-be-otherwise lost data in a few clicks.
In the case of unexpected challenges that would traditionally pose significant problems, this means you can instead focus your attention and resources on maintaining other processes.
Integration
Finally, a great advantage of cloud databases is that they can be seamlessly integrated alongside many other cloud services – which can in turn deliver a more powerful virtual environment.
For example, you can combine your cloud database with cloud-based analytics software, to analyse vast amounts of data quickly and deliver intelligent insights. Or you might want to integrate with machine learning, to build a forecasting model.
In short, transitioning to a cloud environment helps to streamline and accelerate workflows, and facilitates business innovation.
What are the challenges of cloud databases?
Of course, while there are various benefits, it’s important to be aware of the challenges that come with working within a cloud environment. For example:
- Vendor lock-in: Unlike in-house solutions where you manage each hardware and software element, with cloud database solutions, you rely on a provider, which can sometimes lead to vendor lock-in (it can often be complex and time-consuming to migrate to a different provider later down the line).
- Cost management: While up-front costs are slashed, managing resources and costs can become challenging if you don’t keep a handle over consumption.
- Connectivity: When working within a cloud environment, you’re reliant on an internet connection. While this isn’t likely to be something of everyday concern, it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll not be able to access your data if there are connectivity problems.
How to choose a cloud database for my business
If you’re interested in learning more about choosing a cloud database for your business, get in touch with our team of experts to discuss the service in more depth. Or, if you’re considering transitioning to a virtual environment, have a chat with an experienced cloud consultant, who’ll be able to discuss a solution that best-benefits your business and long-term goals.
Within our range of cloud articles, you can also explore more about our cloud consultancy service, and the ways they can provide support and guidance.
