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Databases are fundamental to today’s technological infrastructure, enabling efficient data storage and retrieval. With the growing adoption of cloud computing, organizations increasingly turn to cloud databases—a structured collection of information designed for easy access, management, and updates, accessible virtually. The global market for cloud databases and Database as a Service (DBaaS) is set for expansion, projected to grow from $21.3 billion in 2023 to $57.5 billion by 2028.
Cloud technology expenditure is forecasted to surpass traditional IT budgets by 2025. In this article, we define cloud database management systems, exploring their functionality compared to traditional databases. Plus, we explore advantages, challenges, various deployment models, and considerations to choose the right cloud database management system for your organizational needs.
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A cloud database is a system hosted and managed within a cloud environment. Unlike traditional on-premises servers, data within a cloud database is stored and accessed via the internet. It’s accessible from any location with internet connectivity, an advantage for remote teams and businesses requiring flexible data access. Moreover, cloud databases have swift setup procedures and dynamic scalability, allowing seamless adjustments to accommodate evolving data requirements.
Cloud database management refers to a specialized form of database management system tailored for operation within cloud computing environments. It equips users with the right tools, functionalities, and infrastructure essential to create, maintain, and secure databases within a cloud platform.
These systems offer traditional database management capabilities while leveraging the advantages of cloud computing, including scalability, accessibility, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
The key difference between traditional databases and cloud database solutions lies in where the data is stored and managed.
Traditionally, organizations established physical servers and installed Database Management System (DBMS) software to store and administer data. This method required substantial initial hardware, software licenses, and IT infrastructure investments. Ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and backups require dedicated staff and resources.
Cloud-based DBMS eliminates organizations’ infrastructure management burden by providing a virtualized environment. Rather than procuring and upkeeping physical servers, businesses can leverage the infrastructure provided by cloud providers like DigitalOcean.
Different cloud database management systems cater to diverse data storage and access needs. Here’s an overview of the leading cloud database options:
Relational cloud databases are traditional database systems adapted for cloud environments. They excel in managing structured data with predefined schemas, using SQL server databases for data manipulation and retrieval. Examples include Amazon RDS, Microsoft Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL.
Designed for flexibility and scalability, NoSQL databases accommodate unstructured, semi-structured, and rapidly evolving data. They include several subcategories:
These bridge the scalability of NoSQL with the transactional guarantees of RDBMS, aiming to deliver optimal performance for demanding applications. Examples include CockroachDB, TiDB, and NuoDB.
Time-series databases are optimized for handling extensive streams of time-stamped data, commonly employed in applications such as sensor data, logs, and IoT. Examples include InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, and Amazon Timestream.
Prioritizing speed, in-memory databases store data in memory, making them suitable for real-time applications requiring rapid data retrieval. Examples include Redis, Memcached, and SAP HANA.
Tailored for extensively distributed datasets, wide-column platforms offer scalability and adaptable schemas for efficiently managing vast data volumes. Examples include Apache Cassandra and Google Bigtable.
Representing a managed service model, DBaaS involves cloud providers assuming responsibility for infrastructure, maintenance, and scalability, freeing developers to concentrate on application development. DBaaS allows users to leverage various types of databases, such as relational databases and NoSQL databases, offered by providers including DigitalOcean Managed Databases, Amazon RDS, Azure SQL Database, and Google Cloud SQL.
Cloud database platforms comprise a collection of components that work together; handling data processing and management. Here are the key components of a cloud DBMS:
Ensuring storage integrity in cloud databases involves safeguarding stored data. Firewall protection monitors incoming and outgoing website traffic. Additionally, stored data must undergo encryption, converting it into an unrecognizable code, ensuring accessibility solely to authorized users. This combination of measures fortifies data security and integrity within cloud storage systems.
While access to information is vital for employees, it must be controlled. Business owners determine access levels based on job requirements, ensuring only authorized personnel access sensitive data. Authentication processes verify users before granting access, preventing unauthorized extraction.
Documenting data transactions facilitates auditing, enabling tracking of changes and attributing them to users if necessary. Moreover, implementing access controls scans devices for viruses and malware, improving overall system security.
Securing data transmission in cloud database systems involves establishing a secure and encrypted channel between users and their devices. This precautionary measure prevents interception and unauthorized access to transmitted data. Use firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) to safeguard data in transit.
Validating arriving data in cloud database systems is essential to ensure its integrity and authenticity. Staff members should conduct data integrity checks upon receiving data to confirm its accuracy and legitimacy. This practice minimizes the risk of infections and data breaches, including phishing attacks, where malicious actors attempt to deceive recipients into disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware through fake emails.
Despite preventive measures, unforeseen accidents and cyber threats can occur. Establish consistent data backup mechanisms and efficient recovery procedures to swiftly and accurately restore lost data. Maintain backups across multiple cloud accounts to enhance data recovery capabilities.
Numerous advantages and drawbacks are associated with cloud database management systems. Some key benefits and challenges include:
When assessing cloud databases for implementation, organizations should assess a number of key factors—from scalability to performance. Here are essential features to look for:
DigitalOcean’s Managed Databases solution enables seamless database management, allowing developers and small and medium-sized businesses to focus on core application development. Our service provides several tools for deploying and maintaining popular database solutions like MongoDB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis. We also have many database tutorials and guides to help you work with different databases (for example, here is a tutorial on migrating Redis data to DigitalOcean).
For online database resources, check out our community articles and user guides and ask and answer questions in our Q&A forum.
Key features of DigitalOcean Managed Databases:
“We’ve been growing up with DigitalOcean—we started with 2 people and now have nearly 70 and have 20,000 users across 25 countries. We used DigitalOcean’s SSD-based Droplets to start with, and once DigitalOcean launched Managed Databases we were quick to switch to those as well.” - Juan Pablo Seijo Carretero, CTO, Clientify
With a focus on scalability and efficiency, DigitalOcean’s Managed Databases are an ideal solution for businesses looking to optimize their development workflows while leaving the complexity of database management to cloud experts.
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