Introduction:
Oracle Database 23c brings along a plethora of new and impressive features that have got database enthusiasts excited. In this blog, we will explore the top five features that have caught our attention and are sure to make a significant impact on how you use Oracle Database. Let’s dive right in!
- Identity and Access Management (IAM) Integration with Oracle Autonomous Cloud Databases:
Logging in to Oracle Database in the Cloud has become even more secure and efficient with the integration of Identity and Access Management (IAM). Now, you can access Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) DBaaS platforms using IAM credentials, which include password or token-based authentication. This means you can conveniently log in to your databases from tools like SQL*Plus or SQLcl, making your database operations smoother and more secure.
- Wide Tables for Enhanced Application Design:
Oracle Database 23c brings a game-changer for application developers by increasing the maximum number of columns allowed in a database table or view to a whopping 4096. This fantastic feature opens up exciting possibilities for building applications that can store a large number of attributes in a single table. With this improvement, you can now design applications more efficiently, especially for tasks like Machine Learning and streaming IoT applications that require de-normalized tables with extensive attribute storage.
- Automatic Transaction Rollback to Optimize Priorities:
Managing transactions efficiently is crucial for any database application. In Oracle Database 23c, a new feature called Automatic Transaction Rollback comes to the rescue. It allows you to assign priorities to different transactions and set timeouts for each priority. If a lower priority transaction holds row locks and blocks a higher priority transaction beyond the set timeout, the database automatically rolls back the lower priority transaction, freeing the row locks. This ensures that higher priority transactions can proceed smoothly and maintain latency and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) without administrative intervention.
- Immutable Backups Using RMAN for Enhanced Security:
Data security is a top concern for organizations, and Oracle Database 23c addresses this by introducing immutable backups using Oracle Recovery Manager (RMAN). Now, you can store backups in the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Object Storage with locked retention rules. This means that once a backup is created, it becomes immutable, preventing anyone, even administrators, from deleting or modifying the backups. This feature ensures your data remains protected against ransomware attacks and complies with strict regulatory requirements for data retention.
- Enhanced Flashback Database Log Management:
In previous versions, storing flashback database logs was limited to the fast recovery area, which could impact database performance for write-intensive workloads. Oracle Database 23c offers a solution by allowing you to designate a separate location for flashback logging. This means you can choose to write flashback logs to faster disks, ensuring better performance for workloads affected by flashback logging on traditional storage. Moreover, using a separate destination eliminates the need for manual space management in the fast recovery area, reducing operational costs and making your database management more efficient.
Conclusion:
Oracle Database 23c brings a wave of exciting features that promise enhanced security, improved performance, and simplified database management. From seamless IAM integration to wider tables and automatic transaction rollback, these features cater to various application needs and make the database experience more efficient. Additionally, the introduction of immutable backups and improved flashback log management provides robust data protection and lowers operational costs. If you haven’t yet explored Oracle Database 23c, it’s time to gear up for a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly database experience.
