All terms
Glossary
Amazon RDS
Also: Managed database
Managed relational databases on AWS: backup, patching and failover are handled by the provider.
The gain is less operational work: automated backups, point in time recovery, failover to a second zone. The price is less control over version and configuration.
For most systems that trade is good, because self-run databases are rarely maintained as well as the managed service.
How you notice it
- A database runs on a self maintained instance.
- Backups exist but were never restored.
- Upgrades keep getting postponed because they feel risky.
Frequently asked
What do I give up with a managed service?
Access to the operating system and part of the configuration. Anyone compiling extensions or editing system files notices immediately. For the ordinary case the trade is cheap, because backup, restore and failover come with it.