Oracle Database is a converged multi-model, multi-workload data platform. A converged database is a database that has native support for all modern data types and the latest development paradigms built into one product. Oracle Database an example of a converged database, as it provides support for Machine Learning, Blockchain, Graph, Spatial, JSON, REST, Events, Editions, and IoT Streaming as part of the core database.
At BLUEPRINT 4D, Sean Stacey, director of database product management at Oracle, provided the keynote presentation on automating data management with Oracle
Oracle Converged Database
Stacey discussed the Converged Database, which is a model of the Oracle Database. When you talk about multi-model, you traditionally think about a database that can support different sets of data. With Oracle Database, the way you access these data sets remains the same. For example, if you’re happy with SQL, you can still access your data with SQL. Supporting these different data types also means that Oracle Database can support different workloads, whether it be the traditional transactional workloads, analytics, data lakes, machine learning algorithms, etc. All of these workloads can be supported with very little effort, often without having to add any additional functionality to the database.
Comparing Database Strategies
Stacey said that customers may be looking at different forms of databases and there are many vendors out there providing proprietary single use data stores. These siloed solutions can solve many problems, but the Oracle Database can do it all. Customers can have individual databases to map to each problem, or they can run them all in one uniform dataset. Stacey emphasized that Oracle is not only matching what other vendors are providing but is exceeding it as an industry leader. Customers can choose where to run their workloads with the flexibility, consistency, and openness that Oracle Database provides.
Oracle Autonomous Database
As Stacey mentioned previously, Oracle Database runs on many different modes, or deployment platforms, whether it be on-premises, on the Exadata platform, Cloud at Customer, Oracle Cloud, another cloud, Autonomous Database, etc. With Autonomous Database, Oracle automates and manages everything for you. Autonomous Database is built on Oracle’s Exadata Infrastructure Platform and has Oracle Database 19c automation running on that platform with automated data center operations and machine learning. Because of the intimate knowledge of the Exadata platform, Oracle can make intelligent decisions and adapt the database engine to match or provide additional resources required. The cloud tooling can allow it to span additional systems if necessary.
The Autonomous Database isn’t just available in the cloud–there are other ways of deploying it. There are multiple forms, including Autonomous Transaction Processing (ATP), Autonomous Data Warehouse (ADW), Autonomous JSON (AJD), and Autonomous APEX AppDev (APEX). ATP is mainly for running Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) workloads, analytics, or running a document store. ADW is what you would use for more of a data warehouse style workload. AJD is custom-built to run a JSON document workload, and APEX is designed to support an Application Express workload.
Autonomous Database manages the full database lifecycle automation. It will provision, secure, and manage everything for you. It will rapidly and easily create mission critical databases, protect data from all external and internal threats, and automates all infrastructure and database maintenance.
The scalability of Autonomous Database also helps customers budget and save on their costs by providing instant scaling of CPU/IO resources. The elastic architecture enables instant scaling online, and you only pay for the resources that you use. All scaling operations occur online while the application continues to run. You can scale up or down when you want or use auto-scale for instantaneous scaling with load. You can also shut off idle systems to save money.
In terms of security, Autonomous Database runs on a hardened infrastructure which is managed for you. It includes always-on encryption (at rest and in motion), separation of duties, native auditing, malware/virus protection, and network isolation to provide a secure database. On top of that, the Oracle Data Safe tools is also included for free with Autonomous Database. With one simple button, you can choose to expose your database to Data Safe. Once you have it set up, Data Safe will introduce a complete control center to manage all of the security aspects of your database. This will also help you monitor user activity, save time, and mitigate security risks.
To view Sean Stacey’s full presentation at BLUEPRINT 4D, watch the recording at https://questoraclecommunity.org/learn/recordings-presentations/automating-data-management-for-all-bp4d22/.