Your technology is a tool; a tool you can leverage to impact your agility, security, and bottom line, and to stay ahead of the competition. Oracle Database 23ai, offers a competitive edge for businesses willing to innovate. Organizations recently upgraded to 19c may think another update so soon is too much to handle (especially with premier support for 19c extending until 2026). However, the benefits offered by Oracle 23ai, make it an upgrade worth considering as soon as possible, particularly when it comes to multi-tenant architecture, enhanced security, and advanced cloning capabilities,
The Multi-Tenant Advantage: More Than Just IT Efficiency
Oracle 23ai's multi-tenant architecture is now the default setup, a major evolution from 19c. This feature allows multiple databases to run within a single container. Simply put, this will allow for a significant (over 50% in many cases) reduction in licensing requirements and thus, costs. While Oracle 12c introduced multi-tenancy, Oracle 23ai took it to the next level with enhanced performance and management capabilities.
Furthermore, the multi-tenant architecture isn't just about efficiency and costs, it's also about agility. Managing multiple databases as a single unit allows businesses to rapidly deploy new applications, scale operations, and respond to market demands faster than their competition. For example, a retail company looking to expand into new regions can quickly spin up new databases for each market. This agility can differ between being a market leader or a follower.
Enhanced Security: Building Trust with the Oracle SQL Firewall
Data breaches can severely damage brand reputation and customer trust and be incredibly costly. Oracle 23ai introduces Oracle SQL Firewall, which will protect your data from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. This firewall provides an additional layer of security embedded into the database, offering real-time monitoring and automated threat detection.
With increased security, companies can expand their digital footprint, engage in more online transactions, and leverage big data analytics without the fear of compromising sensitive information. According to Mary Ann Davidson, Oracle’s Chief Security Officer, “The security enhancements in Oracle Database 23ai are designed to help businesses safeguard their data in an increasingly complex threat landscape”. This level of protection can be a key differentiator in industries such as finance and healthcare, where data privacy is a critical concern.
Cloning Capabilities with Exascale: Accelerating Innovation
One of the most groundbreaking features of Oracle 23ai is the new cloning capabilities provided by Exascale. In fact, this point is so significant, that René recently wrote a blog just about this feature. Imagine being able to clone an entire database in seconds—this is now a reality with Oracle 23ai. This feature is particularly beneficial for industries such as software development and e-commerce that rely on rapid testing and deployment of new applications. Moreover, Oracle 23ai increases the maximum number of virtual machines (VMs) in Exadata from 8 to 50. This means more efficient resource utilization, allowing businesses to run applications concurrently and scale their operations without additional hardware.
This high-density computing will mean faster time-to-market for new products and services, reduced operational costs, and the ability to outpace competitors in delivering innovative solutions. As Juan Loaiza, Oracle’s Executive Vice President of Mission-Critical Database Technologies, stated, “The enhancements in Oracle Database 23ai are designed to accelerate business transformation by enabling faster innovation cycles and more efficient operations”.
Why Upgrade Now?
Given the substantial improvements in Oracle 23ai, upgrading from Oracle 19c is not just a technical decision—it’s a strategic business move. While it’s true that Oracle 19c will continue to receive support until 2026, delaying the upgrade will mean being late to the party regarding new features and critical capabilities that can enhance your business’s agility, security, and innovation.
By adopting Oracle 23ai, you’re future-proofing your IT infrastructure and positioning your company to lead in a competitive market. The cost of staying with Oracle 19c may seem low in the short term, but the potential loss in operational efficiency, security, and market agility could far outweigh the benefits of waiting.
