Top 10 Cloud Databases of 2020: Expert Guide to Choosing the Right One

In today’s data‑driven economy, the performance, security and scalability of your database can make or break a digital business. This guide distills the most reliable cloud‑based databases of 2020, backed by industry‑tested experience and up‑to‑date vendor documentation, to help you select the best fit for your needs.

Relational vs. Non‑Relational Databases

Relational databases store data in structured tables, enforce strict schemas, and excel at complex joins and ACID compliance. Non‑relational (NoSQL) databases offer flexible schemas, horizontal scalability, and high write throughput, making them ideal for unstructured or rapidly evolving data.

Choosing between them depends on data consistency requirements, query complexity, and the scale of write operations your application demands.

Microsoft Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service built on Microsoft SQL Server. It offers built‑in intelligence, automatic tuning, and native integration with Azure Machine Learning.

• Pay‑as‑you‑go pricing with a 12‑month free tier.
• Seamless connection to Azure services and third‑party tools.
• Robust security with Azure Active Directory authentication.

Learn more: Azure SQL Database

AWS Relational Database Service (RDS)

Amazon RDS supports MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQL Server, delivering automated backups, patching, and multi‑AZ failover.

• Extensive support for database migration via AWS Database Migration Service.
• Flexible scaling and instance types to match workload.
• Free tier available for 12 months.

Learn more: Amazon RDS

SAP HANA Cloud

SAP HANA Cloud is an in‑memory, relational database optimized for real‑time analytics and application development.

• Supports complex OLAP queries and predictive analytics.
• Built‑in SAP Leonardo for machine learning integration.
• Enterprise‑grade security and compliance (ISO, SOC).

Learn more: SAP HANA Cloud

Oracle Autonomous Database

Oracle’s cloud service offers autonomous, self‑optimizing, self‑patching relational databases for mission‑critical workloads.

• AI‑driven performance tuning and error detection.
• End‑to‑end encryption and zero‑trust architecture.
• Elastic scaling and on‑demand compute.

Learn more: Oracle Autonomous Database

EnterpriseDB (PostgreSQL on Cloud)

EnterpriseDB extends PostgreSQL with enterprise features and Oracle compatibility, enabling smooth migration from on‑premise Oracle databases.

• Supports hybrid deployments across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Automated backups and point‑in‑time recovery.
• Customizable licensing for large enterprises.

Learn more: EnterpriseDB

IBM Db2 on Cloud

IBM Db2 on Cloud is a fully managed, elastic SQL database that integrates seamlessly with IBM’s AI and analytics services.

• Instant provisioning and automatic scaling.
• Built‑in data‑at‑rest encryption and TLS.
• AI‑enhanced analytics via IBM Watson.

Learn more: IBM Db2 on Cloud

Garantia Data (NoSQL on AWS)

Garantia Data specializes in managed NoSQL solutions on AWS, offering scalable key‑value and document stores with multi‑factor authentication.

• Supports automatic sharding and replication.
• Granular access control and IAM integration.
• High availability with multi‑AZ support.

Learn more: Garantia Data

Google Cloud SQL

Google Cloud SQL delivers fully managed relational databases for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, featuring automatic backups, encryption, and global failover.

• Seamless integration with GCP services such as BigQuery and Cloud AI.
• Compliance with HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS v3.0.
• Automatic failover for 99.95% uptime.

Learn more: Google Cloud SQL

OpenStack Database Services

OpenStack offers a flexible, open‑source cloud platform with support for various database engines, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB, either as managed or self‑hosted deployments.

• Full control over underlying infrastructure.
• Extensible via Heat templates and Ceilometer monitoring.
• Community‑driven support and frequent updates.

Learn more: OpenStack

MySQL (Self‑Managed or Cloud‑Based)

MySQL remains the world’s most popular open‑source relational database, powering high‑traffic websites and applications.

• Cross‑platform support (Linux, Windows, macOS).
• Robust replication and clustering options.
• Large ecosystem of tools and community plugins.

Learn more: MySQL

Ready to dive deeper? Connect with our cloud experts and start a 30‑day free trial at CloudInstitute.io to access over 200 courses and hands‑on labs.