As organizations transition their Oracle workloads to the cloud, Microsoft Azure presents five compelling options. Each path offers unique benefits and trade-offs, allowing businesses to choose the solution that best aligns with their needs.
1. Oracle Database@Azure
Launched in December 2023, Oracle Database@Azure (ODAA) allows Oracle databases to run natively on Azure infrastructure. This deep integration between Oracle and Azure offers seamless performance but is currently limited to nine regions worldwide.
- Pros: Seamless integration, joint support.
- Cons: Limited regional availability.
2. Oracle on Traditional IaaS Solutions
Customers can deploy Oracle databases on Azure using either virtual machines (VMs) or bare-metal servers. This approach offers flexibility in choosing VM sizes and networking options, though it requires customers to manage operating system patches and backups.
- Pros: Broad regional availability, extensive customization options.
- Cons: Requires manual OS maintenance and backups.
3. Oracle on Azure via Third-Party Solutions
This option involves running Oracle on Azure VMs while leveraging third-party solutions like Tessell, Lightbitslabs, and Silk. These vendors provide advanced storage features such as compression, cloning, and snapshots, enhancing Oracle's performance on Azure.
- Pros: Enhanced storage capabilities, flexibility with networking.
- Cons: Added complexity in managing third-party tools.
4. Migrating to Azure PostgreSQL DBaaS
For those looking to reduce licensing costs or embrace open-source technology, migrating from Oracle to Azure PostgreSQL DBaaS is increasingly attractive. Azure provides various tools and partner support to facilitate this transition.
- Pros: Cost-effective, open-source adoption.
- Cons: Requires significant effort to migrate and adapt existing Oracle applications.
5. Liberatii Data Platform
The Liberatii Data Platform offers an innovative solution by enabling existing Oracle applications to run on Azure databases for PostgreSQL or MySQL without requiring any code changes. This approach allows businesses to migrate to Azure while maintaining their existing applications, offering a seamless and cost-effective transition.
- Pros: No code changes required, supports PostgreSQL and MySQL.
- Cons: Not all third-party software licenses are certified for use with Liberatii.
Each of these options offers distinct advantages, making it crucial for businesses to assess their specific needs and choose the path that best supports their goals. Whether maintaining Oracle’s ecosystem or exploring new possibilities with PostgreSQL, Azure provides a robust platform to power your cloud journey.
