Introduction
In a big announcement on September 14, 2023, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, and Oracle’s CTO, Larry Ellison, unveiled the collaboration project known as “Oracle Database @ Azure.” This groundbreaking partnership signifies a major development in the world of cloud computing, bringing together two technology giants to offer a unique solution that bridges a major gap between Oracle and Microsoft’s Azure cloud platforms.
Oracle Database @ Azure vs. Oracle Database Service for Azure
It’s essential to understand the distinction between “Oracle Database@Azure” and the existing “Oracle Database Service for Azure.” While the latter offers Oracle database services on Azure by providing the ability to provision Oracle Exadata Infrastructure in Oracle Cloud from Azure console, the former goes a step further by physically locating Oracle hardware at Azure data centers. This strategic move is designed to provide enhanced performance, scalability, and seamless integration for customers who wish to run Oracle workloads on Azure.
Key Offerings: Oracle Exadata Infrastructure and Autonomous Databases
Under the “Oracle Database@Azure” initiative, two flagship offerings from Oracle will be made available within Azure’s ecosystem:
- Oracle Exadata: Oracle Exadata is an engineered system optimized for high-performance database workloads. It combines the power of both hardware and software to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability for Oracle databases. By making Oracle Exadata available on Azure, customers can leverage this cutting-edge technology without the need for on-premises hardware investments on-premise.
- Autonomous Databases: Oracle’s Autonomous Database is a cloud-native, self-driving, self-healing, and self-securing database service. It automates routine database management tasks, such as patching, tuning, and security updates, freeing up DBAs to focus on more strategic initiatives. Autonomous Databases on Azure provide customers with a highly efficient and cost-effective way to run their Oracle workloads.
Infrastructure Integration: One Data Center and Virtual Network
To ensure optimal performance and data privacy, Oracle Database @ Azure will be hosted in the Azure data center. Yes, not the same region or, near by data center but in the same Azure data center where all other Azure infrastructure is hosted. This approach guarantees low-latency connectivity and robust security for customers’ mission-critical Oracle workloads.
Leveraging Existing Azure Cost Commitments
One of the key advantages of this collaboration is that customers can utilize their existing Azure cost commitments. This means that organizations already invested in Azure can seamlessly integrate Oracle workloads into their existing Azure environments without additional financial overhead.
A Part of a Multi-Cloud Approach
The introduction of Oracle Database @ Azure is aligned with the broader industry trend of adopting a multi-cloud strategy. Many organizations are looking to diversify their cloud providers to mitigate risk and enhance flexibility. By offering Oracle solutions on Azure, this partnership allows customers to pursue a multi-cloud approach without compromising on the performance and capabilities of their Oracle databases.
What could it mean for Customers
Microsoft Azure customers:
- Retire Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC): Microsoft customers can now purchase Oracle Database@Azure and retire their Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC). This flexibility allows organizations to transition smoothly to Oracle Database services while optimizing their cloud cost management.
- Unified Billing: With Oracle Database@Azure, Microsoft customers will receive a single, consolidated bill for their consumption of Oracle Database@Azure and other Azure services. This simplifies accounting and billing processes, reducing administrative overhead.
- Feature and Pricing Parity: Oracle Database@Azure ensures feature and pricing parity across Oracle database services, both in Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). This means that Microsoft customers can enjoy the same capabilities and pricing options as those using Oracle’s services in OCI, promoting consistency and predictability in their cloud investments.
Oracle Customers:
- License Flexibility: Just like in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), Oracle customers can use unlimited license agreements (ULAs) or bring their own licenses (BYOL) when deploying Oracle Database @ Azure.
- Oracle Support Rewards: Oracle customers using Oracle Database@Azure can earn Oracle Support Rewards to reduce Oracle support fee payments.
- Unified Billing: Similar to Microsoft customers, Oracle customers adopting Oracle Database@Azure will receive a consolidated bill covering their consumption of Oracle Database@Azure and other Azure services. This unified billing approach simplifies financial management and reduces complexities associated with multi-cloud environments.
This partnership opens new doors for customers who already have a significant Azure footprint or those who are considering Azure as their primary cloud provider. They can now seamlessly integrate Oracle’s high-performance database solutions into their existing Azure infrastructure, potentially reducing complexity and streamlining their cloud operations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Oracle Database@Azure” represents a significant milestone in the cloud computing landscape, bringing together the strengths of Oracle’s database technology and Microsoft’s Azure platform. This collaboration provides customers with enhanced options for running Oracle workloads on Azure, aligning with the growing demand for multi-cloud strategies and offering more flexibility in choosing the right cloud environment for their needs. It marks a win-win situation for both Oracle and Azure customers, promising improved performance, scalability, and ease of integration in the cloud.
Originally written and posted by Arun Yadav on https://itnoesis.com/.