January 2015 Summaries

Our current data management systems are struggling to keep up with the rapid influx of incoming information, making it difficult to make use of it. Many companies are still using batch processing and legacy solutions that are cost-prohibitive to scale. A new approach is needed to build applications for the future on outdated infrastructure. Hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) merges operational databases with data warehouses, eliminating many challenges faced by database administrators. HTAP provides an accurate representation of data as it's being created, allowing businesses to power applications and monitor infrastructure in real-time. It also eliminates the need to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data, reduces synchronization issues, and minimizes the need for multiple copies of data. With the advent of low-cost memory-rich servers, HTAP offers simplified deployments for existing use cases while opening doors to new data-centric applications.

Microsoft Azure has launched its most powerful cloud instances to date, with RAM capacities approaching half a terabyte at 448 GB. The new G-series instances offer up to 32 cores and 6,596 GB of local SSD storage. This announcement comes before the expected roll-out of new high-octane cloud instances by AWS, which will go up to 60 GB of RAM in their C4 instances. In comparison, Amazon's R3 instances can reach capacities of up to 244 GB. The increased availability of memory is boding well for customers tackling demanding data workloads, with the help of faster performance capabilities from DRAM. Some companies are even offering large amounts of memory, such as Supermicro's SuperServer Solution with 6TB of DDR3 memory, or SingleStore which can utilize all available memory to demonstrate its power.

At SingleStore, a new Executive Chairman has been appointed, Jerry Held, whose experience in technology and database innovation is unparalleled. He brings expertise in building high-growth companies to the role, having helped create new database technologies and companies, including pioneering work on the INGRES database and running Oracle's server products division. With his extensive network of board memberships and leadership roles, Jerry is well-positioned to help SingleStore reshape the real-time database landscape and capitalize on its growth opportunities. As a respected figure in the technology industry, he will bring valuable insight and guidance to the company as it continues to expand its business and product offerings.

Gartner's recent report "Market Guide for In-Memory DBMS" highlights the emergence of hybrid transactional/analytical processing (HTAP) architectures that enable concurrent analytical and transactional processing on a single in-memory database management system (IMDBMS). HTAP promises to open opportunities for businesses by allowing large volumes of complex data to be analyzed in real-time, without latency, enabling more informed operational and tactical decisions. This technology is particularly beneficial for organizations handling large amounts of data, such as those in application monitoring, the internet of things, real-time bidding, and market conditions. To get started with HTAP, it's recommended to read Gartner's report, which provides a better understanding of the in-memory computing landscape, new business opportunities, applicable use cases, and an action plan for implementation.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is the tech industry's annual device bonanza where connected devices form the Internet of Things. The theme and message revolve around sensors and interconnected devices, with companies like Samsung declaring their entire product portfolio will be connected within 5 years. Users have high expectations for daily device interactions and demand for data, which drives the need for a robust database infrastructure to support massive data ingest across millions of devices and connections. Database systems must keep up with the incoming flood of data while serving as the system of record and providing real-time analytics seamlessly. The world is moving towards online scaling and operations, and successful services will be judged by their ability to grow and provide enterprise-level service quality. To address these needs, a company like SingleStore provides solutions for organizations behind the Internet of Things, enabling them to ingest large amounts of sensor data with ease, make sound decisions in real-time, and manage complex data models with SQL familiarity.