A general idea about Operational Databases

Should you bank on an operational database for your business? This is a question that many business owners ask themselves when they are searching for the perfect database management systems for their business operations. Before you make the final choice, you should know what they are and whether they will suit the needs or your business or not.

Every business requirement is different. So you need to analyze and find what you need. Based on that make your selection and you are sure to get the best out of it. If you are uncertain, hire a professional to help you out. 

What is an operational database? 

Operational databases are called on-Line Transaction Processing or OLTP databases. You can store and process the data in real-time. You get an insight into the analytics of the information in real-time, allowing you to manage SQL and NoSQL databases without hassles. They are ideal for distributed databases as well to boost tolerance towards faults, availability, and scalability. Common examples of operational databases are MongoDB, Apache Cassandra, AWS Dynamo, etc.

Reasons to have an operational database 

The following are the top reasons for you to have an operational database for your business- 

• The real-time ability for analytics – Thanks to its ability to give you real-time analytics, you can make any business decision with accurate and up-to-date information. This database has the advantage of incorporating diverse applications to improve analytical abilities according to the user’s needs. While it does so, the database’s state does not change.
• IoT or Internet of Things – With the help of monitoring in real-time, reviews, and the ability to give itself appropriate solutions, you can harness the power of the Internet of Things with the operational database.  
• Tolerant to faults – The database is resistant to faults, especially when you blend it with a distributed database. This means if a component of one system gets offline or does not function properly; the entire system does not get affected at all.
• Scalability – Operational database systems in modern times can scale on request. They also have the benefits of high concurrency and a low rate of latency. Businesses generally embrace the use as they grow principle with the operational database.
• Big Data – You can harness the potential of big data with Distributed and NoSQL systems. They are generally merged with advanced technologies, such as Hadoop with operational databases like MongoDB and Cassandra. 

What are the benefits of an operational database? 

The following are the advantages of an operational database- 

1. They are versatile and can accommodate distributed database systems like SQL, New SQL, and NoSQL database systems.
2. They are extremely fault tolerant, highly scalable and available as discussed above
3. They have inbuilt support for security and auditing, and their encryption protects the database from cyber threats.
4. Since these databases are highly flexible, you can work with them with many applications. The current state of the system will never be affected. People located in multiple departments and locations can execute applications as well as services accordingly to their needs. There are no worries or anxiety about the state of the DBMS when accessed. 
5. Operational databases are cost-effective to an organization They are focused on distributed networks as well as systems. They reduce costs to a large extent and are highly consistent. To know more about the benefits of operational databases, contact the friendly experts here at RemoteDBA.

Are there any disadvantages to operational databases?

This is an obvious question that you will ask if you are considering using an operational database for your business needs. The following are some disadvantages of the operational database that you should consider before using it for your business needs-

• These databases need to be managed and operated by DBAs with training in them. If you have plans to incorporate an operational database for your business, you should hire trained database management system specialists for the task. This means you need to invest in training if your in-house staff is not equipped with the skills to take care of an operational database.
• The installation of an operational database is not a simple one. It needs a lot of time and effort. The database needs to be established appropriately so that your business goals can be met without hassles. Here, the aim is to extract as many benefits as you can from the deployment of such a database.
• Note that there are times when security is a problem for the operational database. The data of the business might be stored in a remote location. This is where gaining total control over the system can be difficult. There have been some cases that, due to security lapses, the data of customers have been hacked from such a system. The unfortunate part is that prominent companies faced these security hacks. When you are using the operational database, ensure that you pay a lot of importance to security.

The operational database does indeed have some disadvantages. However, again, you cannot deny the vital fact that it is one of the most efficient as well as useful databases for you to have for your business. It helps you to manage all your business data proactively in the organization. Multiple Fortune 500 companies use operational databases with their business applications without hassles.

Therefore, in conclusion, you must note that you must first understand the pros and cons of an operational database. Only in this way can you optimize the database and derive complete utility from it. However, make sure that the experts you hire for its management and performance tuning have an excellent knowledge of data science, big data, and working knowledge of advanced technologies like MongoDB, Cassandra, and Hadoop. In case you do not have a highly skilled in-house team for managing your operational database system, you should consult credible remote DBA services to undertake this task. In this way, you can focus on the core functions of the business better while experts take care of your database successfully!