Database as a Service (DBaaS)

What is a Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS)

Database-as-a-service (DBaaS) is a cloud computing service that provides access to a cloud database system without needing to set up, configure, or manage software or physical infrastructure. DBaaS providers handle all the tasks associated with cloud database management, eliminating time-consuming tasks for your organization. Learn the answer to the question, “What is database-as-a-service” below. Then, discover how DBaaS works, its benefits, and how to choose a DBaaS solution.

A DBaaS involves a service provider taking care of all the tasks associated with cloud database management in your organization. (You can choose a different vendor from the one that provides your database system.) These tasks include setting up, configuring, provisioning, and maintaining a database.

Typically, you will pay the service provider a monthly fee to operate your database in the cloud. This cost will include support, licensing, ongoing maintenance, and database administration. That can free up time and labor in your organization, allowing you to focus on other tasks. This cloud computing model also proves beneficial if you have a small IT team that doesn’t have the resources to manage your database.

Outsourcing database management to a service provider doesn’t mean relinquishing control of your database. You can still own and control your enterprise data and customize your database to suit your business requirements. Some of the most popular cloud service providers—that look after your DMBS (database management system) in the cloud—include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

How does DBaaS work?

DBaaS requires a database and cloud service provider to process, store, and manage data in the cloud. A DBaaS service provider will take care of the time-consuming jobs associated with your cloud database, including data migration, provisioning, licenses, support, customer support, and administrative tasks. You can also use cloud-based APIs to create new applications for your database.

Team members can access your cloud database from any location, removing the need to download software. Your vendor will also provide all the equipment required for cloud database management, meaning you won’t have to purchase expensive physical infrastructure to host and manage data in the cloud. That could save you thousands of dollars in equipment costs—money you can put back into your business.

Why use DBaaS?

Investing in a DBaaS service might prove beneficial for your business. Working with the right cloud service provider can make it more cost-efficient to use a database because you won’t need to invest in on-premise software or physical infrastructure. You can also benefit from business agility, rapid deployment, increased security, and optimal performance. DBaaS can simplify cloud database management for companies in various niches.

Advantages & Benefits of using DBaaS

Here are some of the benefits of DBaaS for your organization:

No additional physical infrastructure

A DBaaS vendor provides you with all the equipment you need to get your cloud database up and running, including physical equipment like servers. That means you can spend less time maintaining your database and more time using and analyzing data for day-to-day business tasks. The DBaaS subscription-based model allows you to “rent” the physical hardware and equipment required for a cloud database by paying a monthly fee to your vendor.

Additional cost savings and reduced equipment expenses

Hosting an on-premise database involves equipment such as data centers, which can cost thousands of dollars to purchase and maintain. Hosting your own database in the cloud can be just as expensive as you’ll need physical hardware, such as switches, servers, routers, and networking equipment. However, the DBaaS model doesn’t require any of this infrastructure, allowing you to generate significant cost savings over time. All you pay is a monthly fee to your vendor. ### Rapid database deployment DBaaS lets you improve data operations in your organization by provisioning databases, coding updates, upgrading cloud infrastructure, and making changes to databases without using existing IT resources. Your service provider will deploy your database based on your requirements, improving database management.

Scalability and flexibility

Your DBaaS provider can scale your database requirements, providing more flexibility for your team members. As your business grows, you can scale databases to support new data sets or data management conditions. The best providers will do all the hard work without impacting current database performance.

What is database management?

Database management is the process of organizing, storing, and accessing data from a database system. A database administrator—usually someone in your IT team—will handle the design, security, scalability, and administrative processes that come with database management. Those processes might include creating a database that allows data to flow in and out of your organization and updating your database with the latest security patches.

Nearly every modern business uses some kind of database system, making database management a critical process. It allows you to organize data sets, query those data sets, store data in a secure environment, and automate database tasks.

How does database-as-a-service differ from database management?

Like traditional databases, DBaaS requires ongoing management. However, a service provider will be responsible for the design, security, scalability, and administrative processes of database management. You might worry about delegating these tasks to a third party, but the best DBaaS vendors will safeguard your data and make it easier to run and organize a database system in your organization.

Many businesses still use database administrators for a cloud database system offered as a service. However, they will have fewer responsibilities because a third-party vendor handles most of the tasks associated with cloud computing and cloud database management.

Guidelines for choosing a DBaaS solution

As previously mentioned, you can choose a DBaaS service provider that is different from the one that provides your database system. (However, some cloud service providers won’t support all database software.) You should choose a DBaaS provider/vendor that offers value for money and allows you to exit a contract if you are unhappy with the service received. Customer service is also paramount when choosing a DBaaS solution. You should receive timely communications when a vendor updates database management systems, which might cause considerable downtime.

Finally, consider security and encryption when searching for a service provider. The right provider will prevent cybercriminals from accessing sensitive business information on database services.

FAQS

What is database-as-a-service (DBaaS) in cloud computing?

DBaaS is a cloud computing model that provides access to a database without setting up, managing, or configuring software or physical hardware. DBaaS service providers take care of cloud database management, allowing you to focus on other tasks in your business.

How does DBaaS compare against traditional database management?

Traditional database management requires you to set up, configure, provision, and maintain a database in your business. A database administrator is typically responsible for these tasks. You will also need to cover the cost of any infrastructure that powers your database, such as servers and data centers. DBaaS, on the other hand, automates database management by outsourcing tasks to a third-party service provider.

Are you able to run InfluxData in AWS?

Yes, InfluxData is an easy-to-use and serverless database that runs in AWS.

Are you able to run InfluxData in Google Cloud Services?

You can run InfluxData in Google Cloud.

Are you able to run InfluxData DBaaS in Microsoft Azure?

You can run InfluxData in Microsoft Azure.

How does InfluxData Cloud provide a DBaaS?

Influx Data has developed a database-as-a-service platform with InfluxDB Cloud. This elastic and serverless platform is a cloud-native application available on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. It also comes with an analytics service, dashboard engine, and event and metrics processor.