Best Cloud Databases

Introduction

Cloud databases are a type of database service that operates over the internet, rather than on a local server. They offer a number of benefits over traditional on-premise databases, including scalability, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. As a result, cloud databases have become an increasingly popular choice for organizations of all sizes.

However, with so many different cloud database providers to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which one is right for your organization. In this article, we will explore some of the best cloud databases currently available and what makes them stand out from the rest.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Relational Database Service (RDS)

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the largest and most well-known cloud computing providers in the world. Its Relational Database Service (RDS) offers a managed, scalable, and secure solution for running relational databases in the cloud. RDS supports a variety of database engines, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.

One of the key benefits of using AWS RDS is that it abstracts away much of the underlying infrastructure management, freeing up your IT team to focus on other tasks. Additionally, RDS provides automatic backups, automatic failover, and security features such as network isolation and encryption.

Command to Launch a MySQL RDS Instance

$ aws rds create-db-instance --db-instance-identifier mydbinstance --db-instance-class db.t2.micro --engine mysql --vpc-security-group-ids sg-059df64146f12 --availability-zone us-west-2a --storage-type gp2 --storage-encrypted --db-subnet-group-name default --master-username admin --master-user-password password

Output

{
   "DBInstance": {
      "DBInstanceIdentifier": "mydbinstance",
      "DBInstanceClass": "db.t2.micro",
      "Engine": "mysql",
      "DBInstanceStatus": "creating",
      "MasterUsername": "admin",
      "Endpoint": {
         "Address": "mydbinstance.abcdefghijkl.us-east-2.rds.amazonaws.com",
         "Port": 3306
      },
      ...
   }
}

Google Cloud SQL

Google Cloud SQL is a fully-managed relational database service provided by Google Cloud Platform. Like AWS RDS, it offers a simple and scalable solution for running relational databases in the cloud. However, unlike RDS, Google Cloud SQL supports only the MySQL and PostgreSQL database engines.

One of the key benefits of using Google Cloud SQL is that it integrates seamlessly with other Google Cloud services, such as Google App Engine and Google Cloud Storage. Additionally, Google Cloud SQL offers automatic high availability, automatic backups, and SSL encryption for secure communication between your application and the database.

Command to Launch a MySQL Instance in Google Cloud SQL

$ gcloud sql instances create myinstance --tier=db-f1-micro --region=us-central1

Output

Creating Cloud SQL instance...done.
Instance created successfully.
NAME REGION  TIER    	STATUS
myinstance us-central1 db-f1
....

Microsoft Azure SQL Database

Microsoft Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service provided by Microsoft Azure. It supports the latest versions of the Microsoft SQL Server database engine and offers a range of features for running relational databases in the cloud, including high availability, automatic backups, and encryption.

One of the key benefits of using Azure SQL Database is its strong integration with other Microsoft Azure services, such as Azure Active Directory(AD) and Azure Machine Learning (ML). Additionally, Azure SQL Database offers a number of security features, including Advanced Threat Protection and auditing, to help ensure the security of your data.

Command to Create an Azure SQL Database

$ az sql db create --name mydatabase --resource-group myresourcegroup --server myserver --service-objective S0

Output

{
   "elasticPoolId": null,
   "id":  "/subscriptions/00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000/resourceGroups/myresourcegroup/providers/Microsoft.Sql/servers/myserver/databases/mydatabase",
   "location": "westus2",
   "name": "mydatabase",
   "resourceGroup": "myresourcegroup",
   "serverName": "myserver",
   "sku": {
      "name": "S0",
      "tier": "Standard"
   },
   "tags": {},
   "type": "Microsoft.Sql/servers/databases"
}

MongoDB Atlas

MongoDB Atlas is a fully managed MongoDB database service provided by the creators of MongoDB. It offers a range of features for running MongoDB databases in the cloud, including automatic scaling, automatic backups, and encryption.

One of the key benefits of using MongoDB Atlas is its strong security features, including role-based access control, network isolation, and encryption at rest. Additionally, MongoDB Atlas offers a number of features for monitoring and optimizing performance, such as real-time performance insights and index analysis.

Command to Create a MongoDB Atlas Cluster

$ aws atlas create-cluster --clusterName mycluster --providerAws --diskSizeGB 100

Output

{
   "clusterName": "mycluster",
   "status": "CREATING",
   "link": "https://cloud.mongodb.com/v2/clusters/abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz",
   "providerSettings": {
      "providerName": "AWS",
      "instanceSizeName": "M10",
      "regionName": "US_EAST_1"
   }
}

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many excellent cloud database options available, each with its own unique strengths and benefits. Whether you're looking for a managed relational database service, a NoSQL database service, or something in between, there is likely a cloud database provider that can meet your needs.