Gone are the days of the meatloaf dinner. The comforting aroma of sweet barbeque sauce, steaming off a nostalgically simple meal has given way to a chaotic smorgasbord of choices. With the exception of Will Ferrell screaming, “Hey, Ma!! Where’s the meatloaf?!!” no one’s demanding the streamlined singularity of meat crammed into a decidedly outdated bread-shaped receptacle.
In life and tech, a craving for variety has taken hold
And the options to satiate this growing hunger are endless. But moving from a single-pan beef blob to a mega-mall food court comes with growing pains and unexpected costs. So, why are a whopping 80 percent of organizations now gorging at the all-you-can-eat buffet of database platforms? And how can you get your money’s worth without winding up in a food coma? Well, pull on your stretchy pants and get comfy – because we’re about to dig in and make multi-platform database management a little more digestible.
The Sizzler of database environments
While the number of database platforms organizations operate is different depending on company size, even small businesses are using a mix of cloud-based and traditional relational databases, while large enterprises frequently have between six to 10 diverse platforms – or more.
Cost-cutting initiatives, specific use cases, acquisitions, legacy systems and diverse application needs are turning database environments into a regular Chuck-A-Rama, the stress of which may cause just as much heart disease as a chafing dish of fried chicken glistening beneath a plexiglass sneeze guard. And now that everyone’s pulled up a seat at the buffet, a recent ESG report shows no one’s planning on leaving. Because as anyone who’s ever overdone it at the Golden Corral knows, it’s Too… Hard… To Move… after slopping on a heaping helping of every option in sight.
Overconsumption in the computing cafeteria
So, what’s everyone macking down on most? Popular menus include some combo of:
- Oracle (the prime rib) – Rich, robust and powerful. If you’re running mission-critical applications that need serious performance, you’re gonna load up on this. But we all know a single serving ain’t cheap. Want steak sauce or onion rings? Maybe a beverage to wash it all down? Oof! Those add-ons will cost you. “Milk was a bad choice!” Here’s hoping your budget can expand more than those baggy pantaloons, which, great idea, by the way. Kudos on planning ahead. Now I’m craving Kudos. Don’t look at me like you don’t remember those delicious chocolate-dipped granola bars that were like the high-five of snack foods, subconsciously encouraging us to reward ourselves with five to seven bars. They were so tiny! But it’s not time for dessert yet because we still have…
- SQL Server (the mashed taters and gravy of tech) – Comforting, reliable and widely loved. It plays well with enterprise applications, and let’s be honest, most plates need a little SQL Server to feel complete.
- MySQL (the rotisserie chicken) – Simple, dependable and ubiquitous. It might not be flashy, but it gets the job done and pairs well with everything else on your plate.
- PostgreSQL (the fresh salad bar) – Open-source, packed with goodies and a go-to for those who want something flexible and scalable. You can dress it up however you like, and it’s still a good, healthy option.
- MongoDB (the sushi station) – NoSQL, trendy and perfect for modern applications. It doesn’t fit on every plate, but for those who know how to use it, it’s a must-have.
- Databricks (the stir-fry section) – Designed for big data and AI-driven analytics, Databricks gives you the flexibility to slice and dice the freshest ingredients to cook up powerful insights with ease.
- Snowflake (the fro-yo machine) – It’s cool, cloud-based, scalable and everyone’s new favorite treat. But watch out. Fill up too high and that surprise bill is gonna hurt!
At this point, your plate’s getting heavy, messy and riskier than that dubiously refrigerated seafood tower. And we haven’t even brought MariaDB, IBM DB2, Cassandra and the rest to the table yet. With so much to juggle, even those fluffy whipped clouds of goodness that had you salivating at the start are beginning to weigh you down.
Pain and regret by the tong full
If you feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew, you’re not alone. More than 75 percent of DBAs report challenges with managing multi-platform database environments. Complexity and skills gaps, performance issues and security and compliance risks are all creating more discomfort than that pile of endless crab legs you just devoured. Looks like the vast Bering Sea just exploded on your table. Pace yourself, Captain Sig Hansen! Because we’re not done yet.
Navigating the multi-platform database buffet
Like John Candy in The Great Outdoors, you were MADE for this challenge. You will not give up! You will sweat your way through this impressive attempt to dominate the Old 96er that is your massive database environment. But all this pressure to keep up with such daunting work? It’s enough to make you choke. Don’t worry. We’ve got your back.
No, actually. That’s us giving you the Heimlich. What did you think was happening? Don’t answer that. Let’s dislodge that old lump of prime rib that’s about to cost you everything. There we go. Now, take a step back and consider how most organizations are trying (and failing) to successfully navigate the database buffet.
They’re dumping as much as they possibly can onto their plate before slumping into a food coma induced by the overwhelming unmanageability of it all. Or, they’re constantly switching from plate to plate in an equally inefficient attempt to take advantage of every offering at their disposal.
The solution seems obvious
You need a single, compartmentalized tray that organizes every offering in one place, providing full visibility, along with secure boundaries, combined with easy access, all of which restores simplicity and efficiency. You don’t need a meatloaf pan, or a messy plate, or multiple plates. You need a cool, modern bento box that makes everything easier to manage. Oh, yeeeeah! Let’s pop open this Toad Data Studio lunchbox.
Enjoy support for every database platform and challenge at the buffet
Taking your new amphibious friend to the buffet may seem like a health hazard at first, but Toad is sophisticated enough to fit in so seamlessly, no one will even notice. But you’ll know. Because this bento box of a bestie is giving you all the service-animal support you’ve been missing. You can finally roll up your sleeves and get your money’s worth like the celebrated Glutton Bowl champion you know you can be. Watch out, Takeru Kobayashi!
Because with one user-friendly solution, you’ll easily:
- Treat yourself to maximized performance across every database platform
- Devour diverse data types and models like Pac-Man
- Indulge fluctuating data demands without bottlenecks
- Taste the sweet success of greater productivity
- Demolish skills gaps with AI Explain
Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you’ll finally just feel whelmed, the most pleasant of emotions, as you give thanks for your metaphorical and “bountiful harvest of Domino’s, KFC and the always delicious Taco Bell.” That’s right, you OWN this buffet now. You’re about to get every finger-lickin’-good benefit each platform has to offer, reaping such high ROI, you’ll be a legend of the multi-platform database buffet!
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