7 Databases to Use in 2023: Which is right for you?

A database stores large amounts of digital information about customers, products, employees, etc., that computers can easily access. While a spreadsheet could be a great tool for smaller amounts of data, large datasets need more sophisticated tools that organize the information for easy access and use.

Consider factors such as ease of use, compatibility, flexibility, cost, support, and integrations when choosing a database. This article aims to assist with this decision-making process by walking you through the following steps.

Identify your organizations needs
Research the various database types available
Compare database features (check out our helpful graphic below!)
Choose the correct database for your organization

Identify Your Organization’s Needs

To find the best database for your organization, you need to consider a few key factors.. This guide will help clarify your needs and how they relate to databases.

Factors to consider when choosing the right size database

Determining the size of your database requires estimating the amount of data to be stored. You have to think ahead. Consider how much may be stored at peak times, or for planned growth. For small data volumes (less than a gigabyte) an in-memory database could suffice. However, if the data volume is in the terabyte range, there are multiple options available. Note that larger databases are more challenging to maintain and manage.

How many users need access to the database?

It is important to estimate the number of simultaneous users of a database. Employees can help with this task. The bigger the user base, the higher the risk of a security breach. To safeguard your database, including an encryption solution in your protection plan is a must. Database encryption continues to increase in importance as our world becomes more technology driven. If you need additional assistance on how to start building your own database encryption protection strategy, check out this article.

How will you manage your data storage and retrieval?

It is important to understand the structure of your database early on as this will be the basis of your setup.

Below is an overview:

SQL Databases:

Store and handle structured datasets
Are designed with a normalized structure which can reduce data duplication but can require multiple table joins for single object or entity queries
Focus on reducing data duplication
Have rigid, complex, tabular schemas
Often requires vertical scaling

NoSQL Databases:

Handle semi-structured and unstructured data types
Offer flexible data models that allow for horizontal scaling
Process faster than SQL databases
Are User-friendly for developers.

What are your speed and scalability requirements?

When evaluating speed, consider the rate at which the database should store and partition new data, as well as the speed at which specific data should be retrieved in queries. Scalability refers to the database platform’s ability to grow without affecting speed, security, or storage capacity. There are two scaling options for your database: vertically or horizontally, which can greatly impact the suitability of the database for you.

How does compliance impact your business?

A database’s ability to comply with legal requirements is also a factor to consider. Understanding compliance requirements is crucial for creating stronger, more comprehensive data security plans for any organization.

Keeping up with changing government regulations can be challenging and costly, but compliance and data security should not be neglected. To gain insight into industry-specific compliance requirements,visit our Compliance page.

What is your budget allocation?

Lastly, you must consider your budget. Some databases are free, while others come in various paid versions. You must think about not only acquisition costs, but also the total cost of ownership (TCO). What is the cost of database licensing? How much time is required to implement and then also to administer. More information about each database and potential impact on your budget are detailed below.

Research the Various Database Types Available

MySQL Database

Small web-based solution, specifically designed for smaller volumes of data
Stackoverflow survey states that 58.4% of respondents who are learning to code did extensive development work and want to continue to work in MySQL in the coming years
OLAP/OLTP systems which don’t require complex queries and large volumes of data
Harder to scale
Basic version is free though more advanced versions can be purchased
Often used in tandem with another PHP program language
Ideal for storing application data, specifically web application data
Supported by most cloud providers

PostgreSQL Database

Most popular database amongst professional developers
Strengthens the standards of compliance and extensibility
Great scalability supporting business growth and development
Supports a large number of data types
Allows users to define their own data types
Easily integrates with third-party tools
Free and open-source
No revising tools to show errors, so you need to keep checking the database
Great for data analysis and warehousing data
Has strong analytical capabilities, ACID compliance, and is a powerful SQL engine which is suited tot processing vast amounts of data
Great fit for database automation tools

Oracle Database

Supports multiple data models within a single database while focusing on information security
Multi-model solution allows for processing a vast amount of data
Not easy to learn. Consider hiring a dedicated expert to install and run the system until your team is comfortable.
Installation requires a lot of disk space and constant hardware updates
Provide strong tech support and comprehensive documentation
Both free and paid options available for use though free editions have very limited functionality
Suitable for very large active databases and with a sufficient budget to support it

MariaDB Database

Broad functionality
Continues to introduce new features
Substantial open-source contributions and is continuing to grow as it is relatively new
Provides commercial support and has similar commands, APIs and libraries to MySQL
Provides encryption as an extra layer of protection
Extended data storage, higher performance and improved scalability
High speed and performance
Used for inventory, transaction management, customer information and more
Affordable

MSSQL Database

Relational database server developed by Microsoft
Used to store data and other software applications
Extremely user friendly
Excellent compression capabilities
One of the most secure database servers with complex encryption algorithms
There is a free version of MSSQL (SQL Express) which is frequently used with distributed applications
More advanced database applications and features require you to make a sizable investment for higher versions of the software

MongoDB Database

Open source
Highly scalable
Robust
Free NoSQL database
Flexible and expressive as it can map objects in any programming language
Easy to implement and maintain
Not universally applicable, as it has its limitations
Works best with unstructured data, making it great for Big Data systems, social network applications, or news site forums.
Great for cloud computing
Good for unstructured data and schema issue
Does not have ACID Compliance, and doesn’t work well with stored procedures or data that is unchanging and structured

Redis Database

Open source in-memory data structure store
Used as not only a database but also cache and message broker
Supports most leading programming languages and protocols
Utilized by several bigger companies such as Airbnb, Pinterest and Slack
Fastest cashing out there with easy set up
Flexible data structures
Contains own hashing mechanism
Has zero downtime or performance impact while scaling
Requires large amounts of RAM (memory on the machine)
Does not support a query language so there is no case of ad-hoc queries
Very basic security and only provides data access rights

Compare Database Features

Below you will find a graphic comparing the databases we mention in this article to identify the best fit for you.

Choose the Correct Database for Your Organization – and Protect It

Regardless of your choice of database platform, unencrypted data is prone to attack. Encryption can secure your data while maintaining compliance with latest consumer protection laws. NetLib Security’s Encryptionizer offers an effective, simple-to-use encryption solution for your stored data. This solution helps you meet the requirements of the various regulations, including increased accountability for firms handling personal data, mandatory breach notification and privacy by design, with no changes to your program code. As an all in one solution, Encryptionizer can prevent the bad actors from accessing sensitive data, and keep regulations from becoming punishments. If you are new to encryption, we offer a free Encryption for Beginners Guide.

About NetLib Security

NetLib Security has spent the past 20+ years developing a powerful, patented solution that starts by setting up a formidable offense for every environment where your data resides: physical, virtual and cloud. Our platform simplifies the process while ensuring high levels of security.

Simply your data security needs. Encryptionizer is easy to deploy. It is a cost-effective way to proactively and transparently protect your sensitive data that allows you to quickly and confidently meet your security requirements. With budget considerations in mind, we have designed an affordable data security platform that protects, manages, and defends your data, while responding to the ever changing compliance requirements. Data breaches are expensive. Security does not have to be.

NetLib Security works with government agencies, healthcare organizations, small to large enterprises, financial services, credit card processors, distributors, and resellers to provide a flexible data security solution that meets their evolving needs. To learn more or request a free evaluation visit us at www.netlibsecurity.com.

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March 2, 2023
Originally published at: https://www.netlibsecurity.com
Copyright: NetLib Security, Inc.