PostgreSQL: What You Need to Know

PostgreSQL, widely acclaimed as the most advanced open-source relational database, has established itself as a cornerstone in the realm of data management. This post aims to provide a comprehensive overview of PostgreSQL, examining some of its advantages and challenges alike. We will delve into the strengths that make it a preferred choice for scalable and reliable database solutions, including its robust performance, extensive support for complex data types, and adherence to industry standards. Additionally, we will address the challenges associated with its deployment and management. This article is designed to equip you with a thorough understanding of PostgreSQL and your options to secure and encrypt your databases, enabling you to make informed decisions in your database strategy.

What is PostgreSQL?

PostgreSQL, also known as Postgres, is a very popular and advanced open-source enterprise-class relational database that supports both SQL and JSON querying. This stable database management system has a strong reputation for being reliable, and flexible. It is one of the oldest yet most advanced open-source database management systems managed and maintained by a community. PostgreSQL can be run on various platforms such as Windows, Linux, and Mac.

It was developed in 1986 at Berkeley under the direction of Professor Michael Stonebreaker. Initially called Postgres in relation to the Ingres database, the focus was on incorporating essential features to fully accommodate various data types.

In 1996 it was renamed to PostgreSQL to illustrate its support for Structured Querying Language (SQL). The PostgreSQL Global Development Group, comprised of dedicated community members, regularly produces major releases and minor updates for the product, which continues to be open-source and free to download.

PostgreSQL vs MySQL

When choosing a database, businesses often weigh the pros and cons of PostgreSQL and its closest competitor, MySQL. In this discussion, we will explore their similarities and, more importantly, their differences. PostgreSQL and MySQL are two popular open-source relational databases. Often MySQL is described as “easy to use and fast” while PostgreSQL is considered “feature-rich” and more comparable to other commercial databases such as Oracle.

PostgreSQL employs a robust authentication and access control system that is regarded as more secure than other MySQL databases, depending on specific business requirements. In addition to requiring username and password authentication for database access, PostgreSQL supports row-level security, enabling users to set precise restrictions on which data can be viewed or modified by particular users.

To choose between the two, you’ll have to consider your optimum performance and scale as well as your overall requirements. If you need to scale faster to a large volume, PostgreSQL is a better choice. If you want a lightweight server that integrates quickly with third-party tools, MySQL would be a better option.

Benefits & Challenges

PostgreSQL is a popular choice among organizations globally. When evaluating its suitability for your organization, it’s essential to consider its benefits. However, be aware that some of these benefits may also pose challenges depending on your specific business situation.

Open-Source & Community Support

Postgres is open-source, which means there are no licensing fees, making it a much more budget friendly, affordable option compared to proprietary databases. However, it’s still important to note that there are still costs associated with migration, support, and maintenance that should not be underestimated.

Being open-source also means that it is also supported by a huge community of users and developers that is active and makes finding help and resources easy. From mailing lists and forums to online documentation, there are resources available to help you get started with PostgreSQL and find answers to your questions.

While open-source can be seen as a benefit to some, the fact that it is not owned by one particular organization can also be viewed as a disadvantage, as it does not come with any warranty and has no liability over protection. Additionally, there is no free support line you can contact for assistance or issues. There are, however, numerous companies that provide professional services to the PostgreSQL community.

Rich Features & Extensions

PostgreSQL is renowned for its extensive feature set, making it highly adaptable and compatible with various operating systems, hardware, and programming languages. Its built-in JSON support and comprehensive search capabilities allow it to handle complex queries efficiently. Its flexibility and extensibility are standout attributes, enabling the creation of custom data types and functions to meet specific needs.

Its architecture supports numerous plugins and extensions, such as “PostGIS” for geospatial data and “Elastic” for sophisticated full-text search, which further enhance its capabilities. This flexibility extends to various data models, including relational, JSON, and key-value stores, allowing PostgreSQL to manage diverse data types and workloads effectively. However, leveraging extensions may require additional expertise for setup and maintenance. Whether implementing complex business logic, integrating with different data sources, or building specialized applications, PostgreSQL’s versatility makes it an excellent choice.

Reliability & Compliance

PostgreSQL is renowned for its speed, especially in managing large volumes of data, and supports a variety of performance optimizations that make it extremely efficient for extensive data analysis across multiple data types. It is easily extensible, with an unlimited maximum database size. It is also highly regarded for its adherence to industry standards, particularly SQL:2011 and SQL:2016, which ensures compatibility and ease of integration with various systems and applications.

It supports a wide array of SQL features, such as complex queries, subqueries, triggers, views, and stored procedures, facilitating the migration of applications to or from other SQL-compliant databases with minimal changes. PostgreSQL’s full ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) compliance guarantees reliable transaction processing and data integrity, even in the event of a system failure. Furthermore, its compatibility with various programming languages and frameworks, along with support for Foreign Data Wrappers (FDWs), enables seamless integration with other databases and data sources. This strong standards compliance ensures that PostgreSQL is a reliable and interoperable component of any data management strategy.

Learning Curve

One of the primary challenges of adopting PostgreSQL is its steep learning curve. While PostgreSQL offers a wealth of features and capabilities, mastering them requires a significant investment of time and effort, especially for beginners. The database system’s extensive configuration options, advanced SQL functionalities, and diverse extensions can be overwhelming for new users. Furthermore, understanding and optimizing its performance often necessitates specialized knowledge, making it crucial for organizations to invest in training and continuous learning for their teams.

Limited Enterprise Features

Compared to some commercial databases, it may lack certain enterprise-grade features out-of-the-box, such as built-in advanced analytics, extensive management tools, and automated tuning capabilities. While PostgreSQL’s open-source nature and extensibility allow for the integration of third-party tools and extensions to bridge these gaps, this often requires additional effort and expertise. Organizations may need to invest in supplementary solutions or custom development to achieve the same level of functionality offered by proprietary databases, increasing the overall cost and complexity of deployment.

PostgreSQL and Encryption

PostgreSQL provides native instance-level encryption, though it can significantly impact database server performance. Its lack of key management abilities, and the slower performance make the built-in encryption less suitable for large, high-performance requirements. However, third-party tools and extensions are available to improve on the native encryption functionality.

NetLib Security’s Encryptionizer solution can address this gap. Encryptionizer integrates seamlessly with PostgreSQL, offering an additional layer of security with minimal performance impact. Our product provides transparent encryption protection without requiring any changes to the PostgreSQL configuration, settings or to applications which access the PostgreSQL data. and can be deployed quickly. Encryptionizer can be deployed quickly with little previous experience or training required. Encryptionizer stores encryption keys securely outside the PostgreSQL data environment by default, and can be configured to store keys in remote locations or key management systems such as NetLib Security’s Encryption Key Manager (EKM). This cost-effective solution enhances your existing security measures without requiring additional upgrades or extensive maintenance, making it a practical choice for businesses seeking enhanced data protection.

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.

Simplify 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.