Making an informed decision around where to deploy your Loading...analytics database isn’t as easy as it sounds. To make a successful decision, it is essential that you focus on what your organisation needs, not what works for others. We can see from spending choices in the market that there’s not a single answer. Analysis from Dimensional Research found that 92% of database providers saw higher on-premise platform sales over the last five years. However, Gartner found that public cloud services are projected to grow by $362.3 billion by year’s end, and that 70% of businesses already use on-demand cloud models.
So how can you decide on a solution that works for your organisation?
First and foremost, you need and deserve choice. At Exasol, we know the ins and outs of every deployment option on offer, given our experience of setting up customers on-premises, in the cloud or via a hybrid approach. We’ve decided to channel this experience into our newly launched Deployment Playbook which contains all the expertise you need to make an informed choice and identifies the key questions you need to ask internally when assessing your options.
Here’s a teaser of what you can find in the playbook.
On-premises
Do you have to meet security protocols and compliance regulation?
On-premises may be the only realistic option if you’re subject to jurisdiction that states certain data cannot leave its borders. Security is also an issue – many argue that storing data locally is inherently more secure than the cloud, as there’s no need for internet connectivity and risky data transfer.
Do you need to maximize value from your hardware?
Another benefit of on-premises is the ability to use legacy hardware investments for the duration of their lifespan. Moreover, being able to physically interact with the hardware used to run solutions gives you more control over your data, whether it’s for tuning, patching, or integration with other applications. These could be important considerations for your organisation, and allow you to take into account the requirements of key stakeholders within the business.
Moving to the cloud(s)
Is your organization ready to shift from a CAPEX to an OPEX financial model?
Shifting from a CAPEX to an OPEX model is a big plus point for cloud deployments – it can help you save money, but this isn’t always true. An organization could be accustomed to an annual CAPEX cycle where equipment is purchased and amortised over a number of years for a tax write-off. This is no longer possible when you’re in the cloud, so you need to carefully consider whether your organization is ready to absorb such a change.
Do you know which data workloads you want to move to the cloud?
If your remit is to handle variable data workloads or manage bursts of data analysis then the Pay-As-You-Go model of the public cloud could be your most cost-efficient option. If you’re looking to work with resource-intensive data warehouse workloads though, that require substantial data usage and analytics use cases, your costs can quickly rack up in the cloud. So, you need to have a clear view of the workloads you intend to migrate before committing to the cloud.
Hybrid – the agility of choice
Usually, the journey toward cloud platforms is non-linear and often starts on-premises. That results in hybrid infrastructures becoming vital in response to the growing role of the cloud as a key component of data management architectures.
According to S&P Global, use cases driving hybrid deployments are varied, with cost optimization and the ability to extend on-premises data architectures being foremost. This has led to 79% of businesses rating hybrid models as either somewhat or very important when selecting vendors.
What’s more, combining different models is more than just a quick fix. It’s become a long-term solution for a growing number of innovative organizations. While useful, hybrid architectures are also complex and nuanced and there are a couple of other considerations to make before going live.
Are you aware of the costs involved?
Cloud Service Providers charge transfer fees for transferring data out of a public cloud. You need to be clear what these rates are and the costs you are likely to incur. If these costs come as a surprise, the advantages of a hybrid approach could soon be negated in the eyes of budget holders.
Which integrations will you need to connect databases operating in different environments?
If you can’t connect your databases, you won’t be able to feed advanced analytical projects. But as you add more manual integrations between databases, your analysis becomes slower, more expensive and less reliable. You need to consider whether this is likely to have an impact on your organization and to what extent it will detract from the benefits of a hybrid strategy.
Meet all your data needs with Exasol
Your scenario and the requirements you need to meet through your deployment decision will be unique. Maybe you want the confidence to pivot if the cloud doesn’t turn out to be viable, or perhaps you’re already familiar with the cloud but want to optimise performance. You could even have a roadmap for gradually migrating your data to the cloud over several years.
Exasol is the answer regardless of the scenario. We provide you with complete choice to deploy in the public cloud, private cloud, on premise or through a hybrid approach. We can act as your bridge to the cloud, giving you a flexible migration path shaped by the demands of your evolving data strategy. With Exasol, the deployment decisions you take today, won’t restrict your tomorrow.
Download our Deployment Playbook for more information on data deployment and to discover how Exasol can help you find the right solution.