There are many advantages to using a MySQL open database to manage your website and servers. In recent years, MySQL has risen to great prominence and is being used extensively by millions of sites across the world wide web. MySQL is extremely simple and easy to use, while still retaining a robust structure, solid security features and very easy scalability.

Ease of Use

It is very easy for even a novice systems engineer to begin working with MySQL commands comfortably in a short time. Building a good set of features that your customers and staff need will be relatively easy to implement. Through integration with a PHP interface and an HTML front-end, you will be able to serve your users reliably to provide data as needed.

Because of this integration, MySQL servers largely serve the Internet and are very effective at what they do.

Ultra-Tight Security

MySQL open database has extremely strong security features which protect available data from unauthorised users. All passwords are encrypted with military strength and several security and user permission layers exist so you can fully customise who has read, write and execute access. This can be granted using passwords coupled with local, physical security devices such as plastic-cards or key-in codes.

Free and Open Source

Because MySQL is open source, it will always be free to use, implement and distribute. Support for the database is also very solid, with thousands of printed resources being available for developers. In addition to this, comprehensive help documentation is available as well as twenty-four hour support over the Internet.

Introducing the UK's largest database of open source software developers.

Very Fast and Scalable

Compared to some of the competing commercial database software alternatives (such as Oracle or Sydbase), MySQL does lack some features. On the other hand, dropping these features allowed its speed to be far superior to any of the competition. Despite this, the database still offers an arsenal of features which will allow database developers to confidently set up almost any system they require.

Because it has a very compact feature set, MySQL is also highly scalable, being easy to deploy on single servers as well as the most complicated arrays in the cloud. MySQL can also handle up to 8 TB of data if configured. Furthermore, MySQL is very good at handling memory, so even the most complicated of requests will be easy to deliver. What's more, because it works very quickly, thousands of simultaneous users can be logged in at any given time and access data seamlessly.

Hosting company CatN in particular are known for their PHP and MySQL cloud hosting services which have been designed to automatically scale and to assign memory and CPU resources any under load.

Cross Platform and Multiple IDEs

MySQL can be installed on just about any architecture, from mainframes, to PCs, to Apple and beyond. Furthermore, it can also run on a variety of operating systems including Windows, Mac and Linux/UNIX. Furthermore, MySQL is also fully able to be developed via a number of IDEs, such as ODBC, JDBC and a multitude of scripting options that will allow you to run your database on any server, architecture and operating system in the way you want.

Backup and Risk Management

Because you want to be sure that the sensitive data of your clients or staff is not used by unauthorised intruders, you should back up your database on a daily basis to servers in secure facilities off site. MySQL is very easy to back up and can be installed and copied onto a large range of computer architectures and operating systems.

Multiple Site-Building Platforms

There are a multitude of highly popular site-building platforms out there which can help you make the most of your experience with MySQL. When you are configuring your database and website to go live, then make sure you use the multiple on-line resources available to automate much of the site-building process. Sites such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and others can help.

MySQL and the Cloud

MySQL is also fully implemented in a range of cloud computing situations. It is not necessary to install the open database from scratch and compile it as binary packages are available. GRANT and REVOKE commands can be used to provide access to databases to authorised users even in the cloud. Privileges exist which can be given to individual users. This will allow them to SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE records and information as necessary and as authorised to do their jobs. It is very easy to set up permissions and privileges if you are a system administrator. Your staff will be able to do their jobs even more efficiently than before.

While MySQL is released under the GNU General Public License, several high profile companies and websites use it for their database management. Wikipedia, Facebook and Twitter all use MySQL and while Google does not use it for its searches, it does so everywhere else.