Large corporations seem to routinely have lots of DBs setup by proactive managers that don't seem to understand what it takes to Maintain and update them .
On last count the corporation I worked for had 10,000 databases With only about 1000 in apparent use. I say apparent because some were being updated, even though nobody used them.
In this scenario the synergies that one Gets With Cloud computing is are clearly visible .
1) Getting a tried and tested DB off the shelf : Many of the databases did exactly the same thing but were developed by different developers using different coding. A useless waste of resources. The information would have been of better use if the groups would have coordinated each other and integrated the information. That would have also led to fewer inconsistencies in similar data. Cloud applications allow companies to better communicate with each other find already developed databases that serve their purpose and implement rapidly. Avoiding the whole project management cycle. This also saves server space and hosting space and makes updating the database easier.
2) Updating issues and usability: Applications on the Cloud can be easily accessed from multiple platforms making updating information in different global teams easier.
The idea that databases can be compatible with many languages and integrate on the Cloud is not new. Salesforce have attempted this with the database.com and other providers exist too.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2011/01/7-cloud-based-database-service.php
http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/07/one-database-to-rule-the-cloud-salesforce-debuts-database-com-for-the-enterprise/
The question is whether the idea of whether databases being hosted so far away from their desks and the constant issue of data security can be addressed adequately.
There is also the issue of regulation and trust. The Federal government convinced Amazon to stop providing services to Wikileaks. Could it do that to companies as well. Online gambling comes to mind and possibly tobacco companies. Laws can always change. It is not so easy to find a Cloud provider where you don't pay a hefty premium every month. However, if you are a small operation with a server stack and a couple of developers it is always possible to plug into the internet somewhere.
Anyway, to sum up, if you are a large corporation with lots of money and loads of employees all over the world, the cloud is for you, when it comes to databases. Everyone else, hire a developer and setup your SQL database.
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