Sunday, November 25, 2012

Hi-Tech Oracle Hosting For Databases And ERP Systems

By Moses Pigott


Cutting edge Oracle hosting is being increasingly adopted by customers who need the power of enterprise systems but do not have the in-house resources and capability to handle it. A managed or cloud-based server can be used to host everything from databases to business applications. All Oracle programs, including the flagship E-Business Suite (EBS), CRM and even Fusion can be hosted remotely.

Let's just run with the assumption that those in need of Oracle hosting are likely to have a good handle on the complexity of moving ERP systems. It's not possible here to dig into the innards of each system and its migration process. Considering the limited space, it will be barely enough to outline the advantages of accessing programs through managed servers and cloud-based services.

But let's start with something simpler, such as managed hosting for a database. Providing connectivity to a database which contains a company's proprietary data needs a data center that's more secure than Fort Knox, which is nothing unusual for a web host. But in this case, the host also needs to have a top-notch DBA on hand at all times to help clients and keep a handle on things.

Opting for a database on a shared or dedicated server managed by a remote host no doubt makes it cost-effective. More importantly, the host will offer a level of performance that is almost impossible for most companies to replicate in-house. Apart from the standard 11g database, the host may be using fail-safe systems such as Real Application Clusters (RAC) which deploy a single database across a cluster of servers in order to render it immune to hardware failure.

Moving an enterprise system such as EBS to a remote host is relatively more complex. All companies, from small and medium scale to enterprise level corporate giants, will necessarily have to think long and hard before making this decision. It's the provider's call at this point, to come up with a suitable customized solution that perfectly matches the client's needs and provides huge savings.

Even so, a few commonalities must be considered by all clients. For starters, the provider's data center has to be SSAE16 or SAS 70 certified so that the hosted data and applications are compliant under the standards required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. On top of this, Oracle has a set of regulations to be followed by the hosts who provide program access and data processing services to clients.

No doubt it's a complex process, but once the hosted applications are made available online to users, the returns are big. It eliminates the local IT setup and the huge staffing needs for an all-encompassing ERP system. The maintenance, security, connectivity and most of the managed server administration and database administration become the responsibility of the host, which allows the client to focus on growing their core business and not worry about IT upgrades and capacity.

Oracle hosting is the trail blazing tip of a high-tech business, and not all web hosts are capable of providing this service. Official tie-ups with Oracle and a certified data center are just two of the basic requirements. The host cannot simply provide a control panel and root access and be done with it. Expert APEX developers and DBAs have to be on the payroll to work with clients and help them with databases, application development and integration. Above all, the host must have a satisfied list of customers who are already using hosted Oracle programs.




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