Oracle and Microsoft expand partnership to deliver Oracle database services in Azure

Organizations want choice, and nearly all of them are using two or more clouds. But, most workloads are still on-premises, and many of them are Oracle Database workloads. Why?

We believe that customers need greater flexibility with best-in-class technologies to move workloads into the cloud. 97% of the Fortune 100 companies rely on Oracle Database for their most critical workloads. Many of these customers have also invested in Microsoft Azure.

Since 2019, we have partnered with Microsoft to deliver the Oracle Interconnect for Azure, which offers secure, private interconnections with sub-2 millisecond latency in 12 global regions. This multicloud network foundation enabled customers, such as AT&T, Marriott International, and Veritas, to build applications across Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Azure.

We’re excited to share that we’re significantly expanding our partnership with Microsoft to launch a new service called Oracle Database@Azure. With this service, Microsoft and Oracle will deliver the same Oracle database services running on OCI in Microsoft Azure datacenters. Oracle database services in Azure are designed to offer high levels of performance, scale, security, and availability — at parity with what we offer in OCI today. By colocating OCI database services in Azure datacenters, we expect that Oracle Database@Azure will have the same low latencies as other Azure services. You can deploy and manage the service through the existing Azure portal and use Azure developer tools, software development kits (SDKs), and APIs.

With this new offering, we’re making it easier for customers to migrate and modernize their Oracle Database workloads to Azure. With Oracle database services running locally in Azure, you can benefit from proximity to familiar application development tools and frameworks to modernize your workloads and run cloud native applications with direct access to data in Oracle Database with the same security and compliance across the entire solution.

Additionally, customers will be able to purchase these services through the Azure Marketplace and apply their purchases to their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC).

Bringing the power of Oracle Autonomous and Exadata to Azure customers

Leading organizations in every industry have long relied on Oracle Exadata and Oracle Real Application Clusters (RAC) to make the most of their data and to power mission critical applications. Oracle Database@Azure brings these technologies into Azure. Oracle RAC allows you to run a single Oracle Database across multiple servers, providing high availability and enabling horizontal scaling for traditional workloads. Building on this scale-out architecture, Oracle Exadata combines high-performance database servers, low-latency interconnects, and intelligent storage with unique, database-aware software optimizations. It can let you access data with less than 20 microseconds of latency, process tens of millions of operations per second, and analyze petabytes of data. Exadata offers the same functionality on-premises and in the cloud, so you don’t have to redesign and rearchitect your applications.

Migrating and deploying production-grade environments is straightforward. Oracle provides proven database migration strategies, including automated migration solutions like Zero-Downtime Migration (ZDM) and powerful tools like Oracle Data Guard and Oracle GoldenGate. Oracle Database@Azure customers will have access to Oracle RAC for high availability using Exadata hardware. The service will be deployable in multiple availability zones to ensure regional high availability and in cross-region pairs to support cross-geography disaster recovery scenarios.

Simplifying purchasing and operations

The deep Azure integration greatly simplifies purchasing and operations in the following ways:

◉ Simplified purchasing: You will be able to purchase Oracle Database@Azure in Azure Marketplace, and those purchases will apply to MACC. You’ll also be eligible for Oracle Support Rewards, a program where you can earn rewards that you can use to reduce your Oracle technology license support bill.

◉ Simplified management: You will be able to manage Oracle databases using native Azure tooling like you would with any other Azure resource.

Figure 1. Oracle Database@Azure home page

◉ Simplified operations: You will be able to use Azure tooling to view all metrics, events, and logs for all Oracle Database@Azure databases.

Oracle and Microsoft are already working with customers, such as PepsiCo, Vodafone, and Voya Financial, to realize this new multicloud reality.

“As a global leader in the financial services industry, Voya has harnessed the power of digital transformation to help provide the best experience for our customers and employees,” said Santhosh Keshavan, executive vice president and chief information officer of Voya Financial, Inc. “As we continue to bring our business applications to the cloud, cloud partnerships have the potential to help the entire industry maintain better security, compliance, and performance, helping to accelerate the development of new technology products, solutions and services that enhance customer experience and help achieve better financial outcomes.”

Source: oracle.com

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Oracle Database Service for Azure: Benefits, Features, and Best Practices

If you're looking for a cloud-based database service for your business, Oracle Database Service for Azure might be the right choice. This article will explore the benefits, features, and best practices of using Oracle Database Service for Azure.

Introduction

Oracle Database Service for Azure is a cloud-based database service that offers many benefits to businesses. It is a managed service that provides the scalability, availability, and security that businesses need. The service is fully integrated with Azure and is designed to help businesses save time, money, and resources.

Benefits of Using Oracle Database Service for Azure

Here are some of the key benefits of using Oracle Database Service for Azure:

1. Scalability

One of the biggest benefits of using Oracle Database Service for Azure is scalability. The service allows businesses to easily scale up or down as needed, without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. This means businesses can quickly respond to changing business needs without having to invest in additional hardware or software.

2. Availability

Oracle Database Service for Azure is designed to be highly available. The service provides automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that businesses can access their data at all times. This is especially important for businesses that rely on their data for critical business operations.

3. Security

Security is always a concern for businesses when it comes to their data. Oracle Database Service for Azure provides a high level of security, with features such as encryption, network isolation, and access controls. Businesses can be confident that their data is protected from unauthorized access.

4. Cost Savings

Using a cloud-based database service can help businesses save money in several ways. First, there is no need to invest in additional hardware or software. Second, businesses only pay for the resources they use, which can be a significant cost savings compared to traditional on-premises solutions.

Features of Oracle Database Service for Azure

Oracle Database Service for Azure offers many features that businesses can take advantage of. Here are some of the key features:

1. Automated Backups

Oracle Database Service for Azure provides automated backups, which can help businesses protect their data in case of an outage or disaster. Backups can be scheduled to occur at regular intervals, and businesses can easily restore data if needed.

2. High Availability

As mentioned earlier, Oracle Database Service for Azure is designed to be highly available. The service provides automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that businesses can access their data at all times.

3. Security Features

Oracle Database Service for Azure provides a high level of security. The service offers encryption, network isolation, and access controls to protect data from unauthorized access.

4. Performance Monitoring

Oracle Database Service for Azure provides performance monitoring tools that can help businesses identify and resolve performance issues quickly. This can help ensure that applications running on the service are running smoothly and efficiently.

Best Practices for Using Oracle Database Service for Azure

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using Oracle Database Service for Azure:

1. Plan for Scalability

When setting up Oracle Database Service for Azure, it's important to plan for scalability. This means considering factors such as expected growth, workload, and performance requirements.

2. Use Security Features

Oracle Database Service for Azure provides many security features that can help protect data. It's important to use these features to ensure that data is protected from unauthorized access.

3. Optimize Performance

Optimizing performance is critical for ensuring that applications running on Oracle Database Service for Azure are running smoothly and efficiently. This can be done by monitoring performance, identifying and resolving issues, and tuning the database as needed.

4. Backup Data Regularly

Regularly backing up data is important for ensuring that data is protected in case of an outage or disaster. Oracle Database Service for Azure provides automated backups, but businesses should also consider creating their own backups to ensure redundancy and quick recovery.

5. Monitor Costs

While using a cloud-based database service can help businesses save money, it's still important to monitor costs. Businesses should regularly review their usage and adjust their resources as needed to avoid unexpected costs.

Conclusion

Oracle Database Service for Azure is a powerful cloud-based database service that offers many benefits to businesses. Its scalability, availability, security, and cost savings make it an attractive option for businesses looking to move their data to the cloud. However, to make the most of the service, businesses should follow best practices such as planning for scalability, using security features, optimizing performance, backing up data regularly, and monitoring costs.

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