Wednesday, 3 October 2012

Hi-Tech Oracle Hosting For ERP Systems And Databases

By Barrett Such


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.

Here's hoping that anyone looking for Oracle hosting has a clear understanding of the complexity of data migration for an ERP system. This space is hardly going to be enough to discuss the broad outlines of using managed servers and perhaps a look at the SaaS aspects. It just won't be possible to delve into the individual details of how each system works and how to move it from an in-house server to a remote one.

It might be better to start off with an easier proposition, such as choosing a host for a database. A data center with more security than Fort Knox is needed to safeguard databases containing proprietary data. This is par for the course, but the kicker here is that it has to be an Oracle db and the host must have crack DBAs on hand 24/7.

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.

Things get slightly more complicated when shifting an enterprise system such as EBS to a managed server. It's not a decision that any company is going to make lightly. Providers need to come up with a customized solution based on the client's specific and unique needs.

Some requirements are common to everyone. For instance, the provider's data center must be certified SAS 70 or SSAE16 in order for the clients to be compliant under Sarbanes-Oxley standards. Oracle has its own regulations about how the host can use their programs to provide data processing services or direct program access to clients.

The immense benefits become apparent once the applications are hosted and made available online to users. The local IT setup and staff gets wiped off the books. Everything from hardware maintenance to upgrades, security, connectivity, and database and server administration is now the responsibility of the provider. The client is able to focus entirely on the core business without having to worry about ramping up the IT infrastructure every time the business grows.

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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