NoSQL Databases
In today’s ever expanding need for data storage and data management, a robust database system is crucial to a business. NoSQL databases are a new type of DBMS which allows for better scalability, performance and fault tolerance and since “have become the first alternative to relational databases.”(Planet Cassandra) NoSQL offers advantages over older databases and go well beyond the legacy, relational databases like Oracle, SQL Server and DB2 databases. One important advantage that is often needed is safety. NoSQL databases such as Cassandra were “designed with the understanding that hardware failures can occur.” (DataStax)
This relates to the topics on the MySQL relational databases we went over in class. We learned that with relational databases, data can be stored and accessed in different ways. Relational databases were the go to standard for storing large amounts of data. But with the increasing need for storage and the need for big data, NoSQL databases steps in to fill the void. One of the topics covered about relational databases was the safety of MySQL databases. NoSQL databases tend to be safer with better data consistency than RDBMS. (DataStax) We also learned about flash-optimized, massively scalable “in-memory” RDMS which is similar to what NoSQL databases are.
NoSQL was once used by fewer companies like Google, Amazon and Facebook but now many companies are substituting NoSQL for RDBMSs. “Netflix stores 95% of all their data, including the entire viewing history of its 36 million members…” (DataStax) Personalization, profile management, real-time big data, content management, catalog, customer 360 degree view, mobile applications, internet of things, digital communications and fraud detections are some of the things that benefit hugely from NoSQL databases.
“NoSQL Databases Defined and Explained” Planet Cassandra, Web. 21 April 2016.
“Why NoSQL Can Be Safer than an RDBMS” DataStax, 09 October 2013. Web. 21 April 2016.
“10 use cases where NoSQL will outperform SQL ” NetworkWorld, 30 October 2015. Web. 21 April 2016.