Having completed our series on Top SQL Query Mistakes last week, it's time to take a page from the Monty Python playbook and move on to something completely different. And that something is why database developers and administrators should consider using third-party database administration tools (DBMT) to fill the gaps left by the major database manufacturers. Regardless of price, all 3rd party DBMT provide functionality that fulfills the needs of the general DBA community by either complimenting or replacing database manufacturers' tool sets. Today's blog will highlight just a few of the benefits provided by 3rd party DBMT.
Heterogeneous DBMS Support
It's a fairly rare occurrence to find an IT organization that supports a single DBMS platform these days. Most businesses utilize several different database types - both locally hosted and in the Cloud. For example, my own employer has some local PostgreSQL databases as well as some of Amazon's online DB services. The local DB instances are well suited to development, testing, and certain production uses. Meanwhile, Amazon database services pair well with other Amazon services, such as AI, batch processing, etc...
A growing class of third-party tool providers is capitalizing on this DBMS proliferation by providing tools that are purposely designed to work with a variety of database types. Their value stems from their ability to manage multiple DBMS from a single application interface. Some products, such as Navicat Premium, can even connect to multiple heterogeneous DBMS simultaneously, allowing admins to transfer data between databases as easily as copying files on a PC desktop.
Increased Data Security
An organization's data is invariably its greatest asset. As such, most businesses place a high premium on security and choose 3rd party DBMT that provide more secure connection options than those offered by individual DB vendors' own administration and development tools.
One popular feature is SSH tunneling. It's a method of transporting data that employs an encrypted SSH connection. SSH tunnels allow connections made to a local port to be shuttled to a remote machine via a secure channel.
3rd party DBMT also add value by supporting multiple authentication methods such as PAM authentication for MySQL and MariaDB, Kerberos and X.509 authentication for MongoDB, and GSSAPI authentication for PostgreSQL. High end products like Navicat provide more authentication mechanisms and high-performance environments so you never have to worry about connecting over an insecure network.
Collaboration Support
One feature that is almost universally missing from DB vendor administration and development tools is the ability to share queries and such with team mates. Navicat's main collaboration tool is Navicat Cloud. It uses Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) to store (256-bit AES) encrypted connection settings, queries, models, snippets, virtual group information, and even chart workspaces. These may be shared as well as synchronized across all your devices including Windows, macOS, Linux, and iOS. Files stored in Navicat Cloud automatically show up in Navicat so that you can get real-time access at anytime and from anywhere.
Conclusion
This blog presented three ways that 3rd party Database Management Tools such as Navicat Premium provide value to organizations by either complimenting or replacing database manufacturers' tool sets. In doing so, they can greatly simplify everyday tasks and promote increased productivity.
