Undertake a detailed TCO analysis to understand both short- and long-term costs related to different options, including retaining on-premises operations. A TCO analysis aids in comparing cloud-to-cloud scenarios and self-managed versus database-as-a-service (DBaaS) alternatives, empowering you to make informed decisions that resonate with your strategic objectives. Always use precise figures when possible and ensure transparent calculations to boost credibility among stakeholders and senior management.
Your TCO analysis should encompass all relevant costs influencing each scenario. These include elements such as licenses for database, backup and data masking, along with compute, storage, egress, administration and the impact on user productivity. The insights gained from a thorough TCO analysis invariably aid in ensuring a more successful migration.
Assess self-managed vs. DBaaS options.
Weigh the benefits of a DBaaS provider managing your cloud-hosted databases against an in-house, self-managed setup. For example, an effective DBaaS can alleviate the burden of routine tasks, allowing your database administrators (DBAs) to concentrate on driving business success rather than maintaining operational consistency. On the other hand, an on-premises setup enables more direct control over security protocols and may even be required for compliance purposes in some industries.
Ensure high availability.
For mission-critical databases, opt for a platform that offers real-time high availability across multiple availability zones. This setup guarantees continuous operation, barring region-wide outages, even if a data center fails.