The most prevalent databases in today’s enterprises are relational databases, a recent survey
conducted by Unisphere Research, a division of Information Today, Inc., finds 56% of sites
running Microsoft SQL Server, making this the leading
(“2014 DBTA Quick Poll on New Database Technologies,” April 2014.) There are a myriad of
requirements in today’s enterprises, and no single database is suitable for all use cases.
adoop implementations. IT operational data (logs, systems monitoring): IT professionals need
databases they can quickly spin up while they are in the midst of writing, testing or deploying code.
Special projects: Many projects taking place around enterprises are typically led by non-technical
business managers and professionals, and thus need to be as simple and intuitive to use as possible.
Real-time or sub-second processing and response requirements: For lowlatency requirements, such
as sensitive financial applications, enterprises are turning to in-memory databases, in which data is
sent to random access memory spaces of PCs or servers. In addition
E nterprises are e n te rin g a new phase of specialization, in w hich d iffe re n t e n te rp rise jo b s
call fo r sp e cific databases
Web applications: Web applications generate a lot of session information, and for this purpose,
NoSQL key-value databases may be the best bet, since they are simple and fast, operating close to
internet time and quickly handling spikes in usage.
Testing and pilot projects: As with IT operational data, IT professionals need databases they can
quickly call up and deploy. Here, cloud databases are a good match, with as much capacity as needed
readily available.
Peripheral/branch office support: Branch offices typically require smallfootprint databases that
synch up with a central data environment, or, conversely, access via the network to a central
database.
Mobile applications: This is the great frontier of data, as more and more local client-side computing
is now occurring through smartphones and tablets.