Database as a Service (DaaS)

A new emerging option called database-as-a-service (DaaS) hosts databases in the cloud and is a good fit for some new apps. Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and Saleforce.com as well as small innovators such as EnterpriseDB, LongJump, and Elastra are all targeting the DaaS market. Although most of today's DaaS solutions are very simple, in the next two to three years, more sophisticated offerings will evolve to support larger and more complex apps.

What Is DaaS?
DaaS provides traditional database features, typically data definition, storage and retrieval, on a subscription basis over the web. To subscribers DaaS appears as a black box supporting logical data operations, and logical data stores where customers can only see their organization's data. Physical access is seen as a security risk and thus it is not available. As with SaaS, DaaS vendors build and manage data centers incorporating best practices in security, back-up, recovery and customer support. Data services typically are provided as SOAP or REST APIs allowing users to define data structures, perform CRUD operations, manage entitlements and query the database using a subset of standard SQL.