If you’re planning to get data replication software for your company, it’s not as simple as downloading a program and installing it. Since this is an enterprise-level solution, you will need to thoroughly vet your choice of software and choose the right vendor. To help you get started, here are seven tips:
- Data Types
There are many kinds of data replication software currently out in the market. However, not all of them may be compatible with the types of data that you want to replicate. Hence, if you want to purchase data replication software, you should first double-check if they can process the raw data that you have.
- Volume versus Simplicity
Theoretically, most database replication software can be scaled up to accommodate an infinite amount of data. However, that’s like saying you can simply add more and more rooms in your home to accommodate a growing family. There will come a time that constructing extensions will be more complicated than building an entirely new structure. While software solutions can be scaled, some of them may not work well with large amounts of data or may be too complicated to operate at that scale.
Hence, it’s important to first estimate the average amount of data that will need to be replicated on a regular basis. That way, you won’t end up with software that’s unable to handle everything that needs to be copied or collected.
- Implementation Time and Cost
Of course, this is one of the most important considerations to any upgrade to your network. However, don’t be too aggressive in cutting costs—the cheapest system may not always be the best.
- Manpower
Installing data replication software is not a one-time deal. Since it’s supposed to run in real-time, you may need to have a person—or even a team—ensuring that everything runs smoothly. So before you sign up for any software, ask the vendor if your employees need to undergo any form of training to manage the program.
- Exclusivity
Let’s face it—vendors may favor using their own database products or hardware over their competitors. That said, a vendor’s preferences shouldn’t get in the way of great performance or service. Hence, before committing to any contract, inspect any exclusivity clauses carefully.
- Available Vendor Support
As tip number 4 emphasized, you may need to keep tabs on your data replication software after installation. And even if you already have employees trained to run the program, there may be times they’ll need assistance from the vendor. So if a vendor doesn’t offer after-sales support or very limited options, you can back out.
- Ease of Coordination with Vendor
This is related to the earlier point—avoid signing on a vendor that’s hard to deal with. If you’re already having problems communicating with your vendor even before the contract is signed, don’t go through with it. It also helps to read reviews of specific vendors before signing on.
Hopefully, with these seven tips, you’ll find the right data replication software for your business.
Tech Talk 