Definition: A cloud database is a database service built, deployed, and accessed through a cloud computing platform.

• In general, cloud databases are tools used to help organizations or individuals manage their relational databases. These databases can be used for anything from storing your users payment information to storing the information about individuals medical details. The purpose of the “cloud” in the cloud database name, is to allow users to not buy/devote hardware/personnel to maintaining and keeping their database running. A cloud database utilizes the infrastructure of the provider to allow users to access the cloud through a virtual machine, letting them store their data and run a relational database engine.

2 main deployment models

1. Through a virtual machine image (VMI)

2. Through purchased access to a database service (DBaaS)

a. Subset of SaaS

• Refers to databases that store data in a structured format in the form of tables using rows and columns. The values within the table are related to each other

• Tables and schemas are defined before capturing data: i.e attribute names, data type, data size, primary key, foreign key

• Pay per use: Cost effective strategy where user pays for exactly the benefits used

• Zero Maintenance Headaches: Provider is responsible for upgrades. User can just focus on deliverables.

• Easy Scalability: Auto-scaling features

• Strong Security: Providers securitize information using top-of-the-line security

• Fully Accessible: Work from anywhere

• Extremely helpful if migrating existing application to cloud database w/o much reengineering

• Quick Deployment