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Category: Data Center

Best Database as a Service (DBaaS) Provider

Best Database as a Service (DBaaS) Providers are a relatively new type of cloud service that provides high-performance database solutions. They are becoming increasingly popular with companies looking to replace on-premise relational databases. Their competitive business model makes them attractive to small, medium, and large enterprises, often looking to cut the cost of hardware, maintenance, and IT staff.

What is Database-as-a-Service?

Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is a cloud service model with a pay-as-you-go business model, where customers access it as a service, rather than purchasing a software license for it.

In a DBaaS, the DBMS service is managed by a third-party provider on their infrastructure. 

The service provider is responsible for the entire lifecycle of the DBMS, including the DBMS platform, the backend storage, the application platform, the operating systems,

In a nutshell, Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is a model for cloud-based databases. A DBaaS provider stores data in a cloud-based database and provides access to it. 

A company can access and manage data from this database from anywhere in the world.

What’s in for you?

Database-as-a-service (DBaaS) allows users to use a database without owning and maintaining the database on their own servers. 

The biggest benefit of DBaaS is that it gives customers the ability to use a database without needing to purchase or maintain the actual database. 

DBaaS allows customers to access and manage data from the database platform. 

This is great for customers because companies can take advantage of the databases without needing to purchase the actual database software and licenses. It also gives businesses the ability to access and manage data in a secure manner.

At the same time, it allows data owners to easily and securely access the database, enabling them to interact with the database as if it were an in-house database.

Other benefits include;

a). Fast deployments

No time-consuming task of installing and setting up the database. Users can easily deploy it through a self-service model with just one click.

b). Save costs on your infrastructure

As we mentioned earlier, there is no need to buy expensive hardware for running databases, which allows businesses to save costs significantly as they will not have to purchase servers or storage hardware.

c). Improved database performance and scalability

Due to the elastic nature of the cloud, users can quickly scale resources up or down based on their requirements that allowing them to meet sudden spikes in demand with ease.

Also, they do not have to worry about capacity planning as it is performed automatically by the provider for you.

d). Highly available and secure

Businesses that are using DBaaS providers can be sure their data is safe as it will reside in a highly-available system. The provider takes care of all the aspects related to security, including backups and patches.

With that said, let us look at some of the best database as a service (DBaaS) providers

Let’s look at the top three DBaaS providers on offer right now… 

1). ArangoDB

ArangoDB offers an easy-to-use interface that enables users to quickly create databases with no coding knowledge required.

It also has powerful features such as SQL support and data visualization tools built in so that any user can easily analyze their data through charts or graphs. 

This Database as a Service (DBaaS) provider has a free trial plan. And their Basic plan is highly competitive when compared with other providers in the space.

What sets it apart from the others?

The best feature of ArangoDB that separates it from its competitors is its powerful automation tools that allow you to fully automate your database administration tasks without having to lift a finger. 

This can be a lifesaver for businesses that want to focus on their core operations and leave the database management to the experts.

2). RavenDB

RavenDB provides a fully managed NoSQL database solution. It is designed to be fast, scalable, and flexible with the ability to handle large amounts of data without impacting performance.

What sets it apart from the others? 

RavenDB offers an easy-to-use web interface that allows you to quickly create databases in just three steps. The user management is also very simple and easy to use.

The pricing is based on the number of documents stored, which makes it easily scalable for businesses that need more storage as they grow. The super-low basic plan starts from $828 a year per core compared with other providers in the space where you have to pay a lot more for the same storage capacity.

RavenDB is a great choice for businesses that are looking for a fully managed NoSQL database solution.

3). IBM Cloud Databases

IBM Cloud Databases is a fully-managed database service that offers both SQL and NoSQL databases. It is designed to be fast, scalable, and secure with the ability to handle large amounts of data without impacting performance.

What sets it apart from the others? 

One of the best features of IBM Cloud Databases is its support for many databases, including SQL and NoSQL.

IBM Cloud Databases offers an easy-to-use interface that enables you to get started in minutes by just clicking a few buttons. 

It also has powerful features such as backup tools built in so that any user can easily restore their data quickly when needed at no extra cost. 

The pricing starts from $0.0062/hour for a free trial and goes down to $0.004/hour on the Standard plan, which is highly competitive when compared with other providers in the space.

IBM Cloud Databases is a great choice for businesses that are looking for both SQL and NoSQL databases.

4). CouchBase

Couchbase is an open-source NoSQL solution that provides high-performance, scalable database management capabilities to organizations.

What sets it apart from the others? 

The best feature of CouchBase is its ease of use and ability to perform complex tasks in minutes without requiring any configuration or administration knowledge. It also offers a user-friendly web interface that makes it easy for anyone to manage their databases.

The pricing starts from $0.32/hour for the basic plan and goes up to $0.40/hour on the Developer Pro plan, which is very competitive when compared with other providers in the space.

CouchBase is a great choice for businesses that are looking for an open-source NoSQL solution.

5). Oracle Database Cloud Service

Oracle Database Cloud Service is a fully-managed database service that offers both SQL and NoSQL databases. It is designed to be fast, scalable, and secure with the ability to handle large amounts of data without impacting performance.

What sets it apart from the others? 

One of the best features of Oracle Database Cloud Service is its support for both SQL and NoSQL databases. 

Oracle Database Cloud Service offers an easy-to-use interface that enables you to get started in minutes by just clicking a few buttons.

It also has powerful features such as backup tools built in so that any user can easily restore their data quickly when needed at no extra cost. 

Oracle Database Cloud Service is a great choice for businesses that are looking for both SQL and NoSQL databases.

6). MongoDB Atlas

MongoDB Atlas is a fully-managed database service that offers MongoDB databases. It is designed to be fast, scalable, and secure with the ability to handle large amounts of data without impacting performance.

What sets it apart from the others? 

The best feature of MongoDB Atlas is its ease of use and ability to perform complex tasks in minutes without requiring any configuration or administration knowledge. It also offers a user-friendly web interface that makes it easy for anyone to manage their databases.

The pricing starts from $0.30/million reads and goes up to $57/month on the Dedicated plan, which is very competitive when compared with other providers in the space.

MongoDB Atlas is a great choice for businesses that are looking for an easy-to-use, open-source NoSQL solution.

Things to consider when looking for Best Database as a Service (DBaaS) Provider

a).  Data type

When looking for a DBaaS provider, it is important to first understand the data type that you will be working with. Each provider offers different data types and different pricing options for the various data types.

b).  Hosting environment

It is also important to understand the hosting environment that the provider is using for their database instances. Most providers will offer different types of environments e.g., on-premise, cloud, or hybrid, and each option has its own pros and cons you should be aware of before making a decision.

c).  Features & Pricing

It is important to thoroughly research all features offered by each provider as well as the pricing. Each provider offers different features and pricing plans, so it is important to find the one that best suits your needs.

c). Database management capabilities

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a DBaaS provider is the database management capabilities. Make sure that the provider offers all the features that you need to manage your databases successfully.

d). Ease of use

The last factor to consider is how easy the provider is to use. The best providers will offer an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy for anyone to get started. Look for providers with user-friendly web interfaces and simple setup processes.

e). Ability to work with other products (applications)

You should also look for a provider that offers the ability to work with other applications and services, so you can easily integrate your database solutions into existing platforms.

f). Support options available in case of an outage or failure

Lastly but most important is customer support. You need to choose a provider that will offer fast, responsive support whenever it’s needed. Look for providers with 24/75 support availability and multiple support channels (phone, chat, email).

There you have it! The top three best Database as a Service (DBaaS) providers. These providers offer great features and pricing and will help you get your business up and running in no time.

If any of the above providers are not suitable for your needs, then do not hesitate to explore the other providers in the space. There is sure to be a provider that is perfect for your business.

Where is Africa’s Internet?

Where on earth is Africa’s internet?

For a long time, there was little content hosted in the African continent. Almost all the popular websites were hosted in Data Centers in Europe and North America, making Africa a data desert. Accessing the internet from Africa depended on the state of international cable providers who would route the data from other places and deliver it to user in Africa, often taking a long time. Consequently, the internet was always slow.

This was documented by a number of people. In 2015, David Weekly noticed that Facebook, Apple and Google were being served from Europe. A 2012 study showed that only 0.27% of the world’s top 1 million sites are hosted in Africa. A 2018 study by Afrinic showed that 85% of news websites in Africa are hosted outside the countries where they belong, usually in Europe and the US.

While the situation has been improving, the above statistics are still relevant and a good pointer to what is happening today. Most of the websites accessed from Africa are still hosted in other continents, and this comes with a myriad of challenges. There is high latency which makes the internet ‘slow.’ There is also capital leakage because Africans are paying for those services in other places while the infrastructure remains underdeveloped in Africa. Also, the cost of accessing the internet is high because of paying for the international bandwidth.

This points to the need to solve this problem and bring Africa’s data home. In the report by Afrinic, one of the suggestions put forward is to incentivize investments on data centers and web farms in Africa. This would help get African websites hosted in Africa, or get Africa’s internet home.

Bringing Africa’s Internet Home

Several firms have taken up the challenge and the problem is getting the attention it deserves. The number of data centers in Africa has been increasing, with South Africa leading the pack. The number of Internet Exchange Points in Africa has also increased, making it easier to exchange traffic locally. Several international players have also set foot locally, especially by use of Content Delivery Networks.

The battle is not yet over, and one thing that is still in short supply is affordable data centers in Africa. We need more investment in these, especially ones that take into consideration Africa’s need and unique dynamics. Africa’s internet should be in Africa.

Green Data Centers and Water Cooling

Data Centers are known to consume a lot of energy. This is necessary to keep all the components buzzing and to provide the computing power that the world needs, but can be also a problem due to the high carbon footprint. The army of CPU’s running at all times also dissipates a lot of heat, which must be taken away from the delicate electronic components. This works in a similar way to the fan in your computer which blows away hot air from your laptop. Think of similar scenario but with thousands or tens of thousands of high performing computers installed in the same environment. The heat is immense.

This calls for a shift towards green data centers.

To deal with this problem of dissipated heat Data Centers come up with different cooling technologies to keep the environment cool and transfer away the excess heat. This involves use of hot/cold aisle arrangement, raised floors, pumped refrigerant or even efficient rack placement. The technologies keep improving, making the whole process better and more efficient.

One of the places where this problem has been solved efficiently is at the Green Mountain Data Centers in their DC1-Stavanger. This unique Data Center relies on water flowing under gravity to provide the cooling effect, thus benefiting from natural resource with a high specific heat capacity to provide the cooling. With water flowing under gravity, this cuts down the cost of pumping and makes cooling very efficient.

Solar farm at the Masinga Green Data Center

Masinga Green Data Center

This is the inspiration behind the Cloudoon MAS 101 (Masinga Green Data Center). Located along the 7 Forks hydro power stations in Kenya, the Data Center will be the Largest Green Data Center in Africa, as well as one of the most affordable. By relying on cheap hydro electric power, Cloudoon MAS101 will make it possible for people in the Eastern Africa region to enjoy affordable data center service, resulting in affordable cloud services.

The data Center will also offer low latency services, improving the user experience for people in the region. Read more about Cloudoon MAS101 here.

The Opportunity for Cheap Energy for Data Center in Kenya

What would be the ideal source for cheap energy for data centers in Kenya?

The Seven Forks Dams along Tana River derives its name from a section of the river where it branches into seven tributaries. This is Kenya’s hydro electric powerhouse and for a long period, it was the primary source of electrical power in Kenya, until Geothermal plants came into the matrix.

The main advantage of hydro power is that it is renewable, and the second one is that it is cheap. Of all the sources of power that energize the Kenyan grid, hydroelectric power is the cheapest, as shown below.

TechnologyShs/KWh
Hydropower3.2
Solar6.7
Geothermal9.1
Wind11.2
Thermal18.0
Various Energy Sources in Kenya and their cost

From the above data, hydropower and solar provide a very affordable source of power in Kenya, and a combination of the two can help provide affordable redundant power.

Harnessing the solar power is easy. One can set up a solar farm and produce their own power. This is a direction that many companies are taking in Kenya. In the recent past, a number of large power consumers have taken this route in an attempt to lower their energy cost. To benefit from Cheap Energy for Data Center, Cloudoon’s Masinga Green Data Center plans to set up a solar farm for this purpose.

Cheap Hydro power

However, benefiting from cheap hydropower is not as easy as solar power. Kenya Electricity Generating Company is the leader in producing hydroelectric power in Kenya, but Kenya Power is the company that does the power distribution. The cost of power supplied by Kenya Power is quite high, with commercial power charged at about KShs 10.90 per KWh. Add taxes and this moves to about KShs 17/18 per unit.

How then can one get affordable hydroelectric power?

One way is to set up own micro hydroelectric power station. This is not easy, but opportunities for such exist as there are a number of places that can allow for that. However, when high reliability is needed, this may not be the way to go. There are so many moving parts involved and getting the power can become a full-time enterprise.

One other option is to partner with the producers, such as KenGen, to get the power at an affordable cost. Currently, KenGen is planning to set up industrial parks where it can woo manufacturers with cheap energy. Although this is planned for the Geothermal power sources, the same should be extended to hydroelectric power sources along the seven forks dams. This would be a turning point for large consumers who can set up near the generators.

Cheap Energy for Data Centers

Data Centers are one of the most energy thirsty facilities in the world. It was reported that Google uses more electric powers than some countries such as Zambia and Sri Lanka. The computing power comes at a cost, and the problem of Cheap Energy for Data Centers is a worldwide problem.

In order for Kenya to have affordable Data Centers, the question of energy must be unlocked and one way to do this is to seek the cheap energy for data centers. Solar energy should be pursued, and the hydropower generators should be part of the equation.

Some Data Centers in Nairobi are already exploring using solar energy, with some adding a solar farm t the existing Data Centers. This reduces their energy cost and makes their operations greener. However, no one has unlocked the full potential of hydropower, and the only way to do this is to partner with the power generators as well as considering a location near the power plants. Changing location is not possible for the existing Data Centers, but new one can consider a location near the hydropower plants to benefit from green and cheap energy for data center.

DC1-Stavanger: The Greenest Data Center in the World

Green Mountain is one of the most revolutionary companies that designs, builds and operates Data Centers. Their three Data Centers in Norway have achieved remarkable success in terms of their carbon footprint and operational efficiency, making Green Mountains an outlier when it comes to Data Centers.

Norway is one of the greenest countries in terms of energy usage. This is one reason that gives Green Mountain a competitive advantage. With combined output of 31GW, the hydro-power plants in Norway offer and endless supply of green energy, making Norway a world leader in the same. The temperatures are also low throughout the year, with the mean temperature at 7.95°C. This is suitable climate for Data Centers and Green Mountain is taking advantage of that.

One of the Data Centers that Green Mountains runs is the DC1-Stavanger. This is a Tier III facility located in Stavanger, Norway. The Data Center is located in a former high security NATO ammunition storage facility. This makes it a secure location, shielded even from Electro Magnet Pulses threat. Some of the features of DC1-Stavanger are listed below.

Cooling Capacity26MW
Availability100%
Power Usage Effectiveness>1.18
Space Available22600 m2
Power Sources4
Renewable Energy100%
Highlights of DC1-Stavanger

Water Cooling at DC1-Stavanger

The DC1-Stavanger has an efficient water cooling system, with water supplied from the adjacent Stavanger fjord. The Data Center has a cold-water basin which receives water from the fjord under gravity and at a constant temperature of 8°C.

This cooling solution is said to be the most efficient cooling system in the world. An input of 3kW of power results to 1000 KW of cooling. The end result of this lower costs for the Data Center users. Water is freely available and the fact that it flows under gravity reduces the need for pumping to a minimum. Consequently, DC1-Stavanger is one of the greenest Data Centers in the world.

DC1-Stavanger is something more data centers should emulate, where circumstances allow.