What is Database as a Service (DBaaS)?

Database as a Service (DBaaS) also called managed database service—is a cloud-based, managed service used to set up and manage databases. It allows companies to leverage database solutions without setting up the physical hardware, installing and maintaining underlying technologies, or configuring databases.

DBaaS is a scalable and cost-effective solution for companies looking to set up database systems, especially when operating large- scale and complex distributed application components. According to Adroit Market Research, DBaaS is one of the fastest-growing cloud-based services. The research firm expects DBaaS to grow steadily at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.65% from $141.35 billion in 2022 to $339.91 billion by 2029.

This post, discusses how DBaaS works, evaluates its key features, and explores its benefits to organizations. It also explores the differences between DBaaS and on-premises databases.

How Database as a Service works

DBaaS relies on cloud technology to deliver database services to subscribers. It operates much like forms of cloud computing services that provide automated, self-service, and on-demand access to IT resources.

Companies using cloud-based database systems usually rely on cloud service providers (CSPs) that sell database software and other vendors that host their applications on one or more cloud ecosystems. Most DBaaS systems run on public CSP environments, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure. However, some CSPs can also install their DBaaS systems in on-premises data centers and manage them remotely as either private or hybrid cloud infrastructures.

To provide the DBaaS functionality, a CSP has to mirror the underlying technologies available in on-premises systems. This allows organizations to migrate their database systems to the cloud seamlessly. For example, database administrators (DBAs) can easily run Oracle or MySQL in the cloud instead of the organization’s data center by leveraging the DBaaS environment provided by the CSP.

Once DBAs have moved the database, DBaaS vendors host all the enterprise’s database infrastructure while enabling access through application programming interfaces (APIs). Besides facilitating access to the database, DBaaS providers must also adhere to best practices when operating the databases. This means they must take care of rapid deployment, scalability, security, failover, and restoration.

In addition, CSPs can also provide extra database management features, including monitoring, geo-replication for high availability (HA) and backups, alerts and notifications, and around-the-clock support. Because the CSP handles most of the administrative and maintenance tasks, DBaaS eliminates many of the functions performed by DBAs.

Key features of DBaaS

DBaaS has many features that make it one of the fastest-growing markets within the cloud- computing sector. Let’s explore a few of them.

Automation. As a cloud-based service, DBaaS operations, such as database administration, monitoring, access control, and several other tasks, are largely automated. Subscribers do not need to worry about managing these tasks manually.
Self-service capabilities. Because the DBaaS ecosystem is largely automated, DBAs can easily schedule tasks from a self-service portal to support various database operations. By using a self-service portal for administrative tasks such as operating system (OS) updates, backup scheduling and restoration, and software patching, DBaaS ensures continuity in service operations.
On-demand consumption. With DBaaS, you only use the platform based on the organization’s requirements and based on a pay-as-you-go pricing scheme. Because the service uses consumption-based pricing, there are wasted resources, leading to significant cost savings for the organization.
Flexibility. The DBaaS systems are flexible applications that consume the IT resources available and as needed. As such, you can easily tailor the platform to match dynamic business requirements.
Resilience. Most DBaaS platforms provide failover solutions that create fault-tolerant systems, allowing the applications to operate continuously without errors. They also offer HA, which ensures that workloads run seamlessly even in cases where one or more database servers become unavailable.

On premises database systems

Like on-premises vs. cloud, running an on-premises database system means managing everything pertaining to the IT infrastructure, from deploying the servers, to networking, storage, and installing the relevant applications. While installation isn’t difficult, ongoing operations usually involve management overheads, such as monitoring, orchestrating failover and recovery mechanisms, backup management, security, and more.

Building your own database also involves a great deal of expertise in database management procedures and software development and IT operations (DevOps). In addition, you’ll need to figure out a disaster recovery (DR) solution for the database services, with offsite shipping of backups or a separate DR location.

Database as a Service

Unlike on-premises database systems that largely rely on in-house DBAs for deployment and management, DBaaS is a model where the CSP deploys and maintains the IT infrastructure and delivers it as a fully managed cloud database service. DBaaS offers high-level administrative functions, including database installation, provisioning, configuration, ongoing maintenance, and upgrades. The DBaaS vendor can also provide additional services, such as software patching, backups, and performance management.

While the CSP handles most database functions, managing the data remains the organization’s sole responsibility. For example, in-house DBAs can monitor the use of the database and control user access. In addition, they can also coordinate with the DBaaS provider on matters such as deployment, patching, and maintenance.

However, unlike on-premises database systems where DBAs spend most of their time performing administrative tasks, the DBaaS model frees them from these tasks. This allows them to focus on other activities like optimizing databases for workloads.

Another difference between on-premises databases and DBaaS offerings is that DBaaS is a subscription service. Instead of the company buying a software license, as is the case with on-premises deployment, organizations pay for the use of database resources based on a pay-as-you-go pricing model. As such, you can easily provision the database resources as needed to meet the processing workloads.

Parallels RAS integrates with Oracle DBaaS

In many ways, DBaaS exemplifies the cloud computing benefits that “as-a-service” models provide to organizations. Oracle DBaaS is one of the cloud database provisioning and management platforms that organizations can leverage as an alternative to traditional on-premises database systems.

Oracle DBaaS provides flexible database deployment options that organizations can leverage to support the most demanding workloads securely and reliably. Parallels® RAS is a turnkey virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) platform that supports the delivery of various workloads, including virtual applications and desktops, physical desktops, and data.

As a cloud-ready platform, Parallels RAS allows IT teams to install and provision workloads quickly in private, public, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. It also supports major hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) platforms, including Scale Computing HC3, and Nutanix Acropolis.

Find out more about Oracle cloud infrastructure and how Parallels RAS can help you.

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