Why Teams are Eliminating External Database Caches

External caches are often used to enhance database performance, but they come with significant drawbacks such as added latency, increased costs, decreased availability, and heightened application complexity. Despite the initial appeal of external caching for improving latency, it often results in additional complications, including the need for complex infrastructure and security measures. Three teams—SecurityScorecard, IMVU, and Comcast—transitioned to ScyllaDB, a high-performance database with an internal caching mechanism, achieving lower latency, reduced costs, and simplified infrastructure. This approach allowed them to meet their service-level agreements more effectively than with traditional external caching methods, highlighting the benefits of adopting a modern database that integrates caching internally rather than relying on external solutions.