Are open source databases also suitable for use in the cloud?

Instead of maintaining stationary databases, more and more companies are opting for cloud solutions. The advantages are obvious: Instead of being stored on an expensive and energy-hungry server on site, company data is outsourced.

In addition to the complete transfer to the private or public cloud, there are also hybrid models that leave part of the data in-house as well as in the cloud. This can be a smart approach, especially for particularly large data records. The costs incurred can usually be estimated fairly accurately and are not subject to large fluctuations. Plus, there's no need to buy or upgrade expensive hardware or software. Connecting different sites is also easier with a cloud model.

All of these open source sql database free databases are also suitable for full or hybrid cloud deployment. If you opt for a cloud solution, you are probably also interested in highly scalable databases. At the same time, you will want fast response times since connecting to the cloud can cause slight latencies anyway. This is where Apache Cassandra and Redis come into play, as these two database systems are both highly scalable and known for great performance.

MySQL and MariaDB

When it comes to SQL databases, however, many companies rely on MySQL. The database management system, which has been available since 1995, impresses with very simple and intuitive administration as well as quick installation on various operating systems. System maintenance is also easy to perform. Unfortunately, many additional features, some of which are indispensable for ideal use at a higher level, are only available in the paid version. Furthermore, the free database reveals its weaknesses in terms of security and data tracking.

The MariaDB database server comes from the same developers as MySQL and also includes all the security flaws of the old database. MariaDB works similarly in terms of usage and can also offer some MySQL functions. The paid features mentioned above are still available on this system, as a free version. Due to the large community base, MariaDB is constantly progressing by developing new features. A distributed transaction engine, higher speed compared to MySQL, dynamic columns and much more ensure that the database does not lag behind other database systems.