Best NoSQL Database

Aug 4, 2015

NoSQL database technology is increasingly gaining ground in enterprises. It is true that the relational database is still the undisputed leader when it comes to enterprise data management. But today, newer technologies, and in particular, NoSQL database technologies, are making forays into the enterprise.

The four key database types that fall under the NoSQL category are Key-Value stores which allow the storage of schema-less data, with a key and actual data, Column family databases, which store data within columns, Graph databases which employ structures with nodes, edges and properties to store data, and Document Databases, which enable simple storage of document aggregates.

The advantages of NoSQL databases are that they can run on commodity hardware, and they support the unstructured, non-relational data flowing into organizations from the proliferation of social media, emails, multimedia files, the Internet of Things, and other new sources.

Still, the NoSQL landscape is still in the formative stage.

According to a recent Unisphere Research study sponsored by Dell Software, respondents are interested in adding more database management systems to achieve additional benefits.

The survey drew responses from 300 database administrators and others charged with managing corporate data from a wide range of organizations in terms of size and industry.

Among the survey respondents, 9.66% indicated they are currently using a NoSQL database. However, the survey does provide indicators that more widespread adoption of these newer platforms may in fact be coming soon. The survey found that 11.72 of respondents are currently deploying NoSQL databases, and 17.59% also say they will deploy a NoSQL database in 1 to 2 years.

The need to support new analytical use cases, which increasingly involves unstructured data and big data technologies, was cited as the most important factor driving adoption of new database management systems, with the need for greater flexibility and performance closely behind, according to the survey.