Discover how ABCloudz can help you get the most out of Amazon DynamoDB
What is Amazon DynamoDB
Amazon DynamoDB is a fast and flexible NoSQL database service for any scale. This key-value and document database can deliver single-digit millisecond performance at any scale.
DynamoDB is a fully managed automated service, where users are abstracted away from the underlying infrastructure and interact only with the database over a remote endpoint. This means that you simply need to initially configure replication and plan the throughput capacity, with no need to worry about hardware provisioning, setup or configuration, software patching, or cluster scaling. Moreover, you can’t even access the underlying infrastructure components such as the instances or disks. Amazon takes the responsibility for all these features, allowing you to concentrate on the application features. With deep integration into the AWS ecosystem, your DynamoDB-based applications can do almost anything.
Our experts approve of DynamoDB because of its operational ease and full automation. They point out that all it takes is a couple of clicks and just a few minutes to scale the database or add new regions. Our customers appreciate using Amazon DynamoDB because it has a simple and transparent billing. In addition to that, DynamoDB remains one of the favorites for configuring its value for money.
Typical challenges that we see with Amazon DynamoDB
Our team has vast experience with managing, maintaining, and optimizing NoSQL databases and Amazon DynamoDB in particular. You can rely on our expertise in solving these and other challenges.
Challenge |
Solution |
|---|---|
Running queries in Amazon DynamoDB |
You can access Amazon DynamoDB only through its own API. Using the Query operation in DynamoDB is totally different from the traditional SQL-based query languages. For .NET developers, queries follow a pattern similar to Language-Integrated Query (LINQ). However, if you want native performance with .NET, you will want to use the AWS .NET SDK API. If you want to use SQL directly against DynamoDB, you will need to use third party JDBC or ODBC drivers. You would typically use these drivers for analytic tools like Tableau and Power BI. For complex querying of data using the SQL language, you will want to consider using other AWS services like Amazon Athena using design paterns where data is streamed into S3 storage. |
Building the data model right |
DynamoDB supports a document-oriented data model. That’s why you need to pay attention to all the details of your future application when you design the database model. This is actually the case for all NoSQL databases, and DynamoDB is not an exception. |
Flexible database monitoring |
DynamoDB provides you with a rich set of configuration options. So, configuring your DynamoDB, you need to dive deep into the options you use. The reason is simple: you need to pay for every additional setting, and you need to make sure you need them. If not appropriately configured, DynamoDB’s pricing model can easily make it the most expensive AWS service. Simply put, when you don’t wisely configure your DynamoDB and add quite a few options to your database, it quickly turns from a rather inexpensive database to a costly database. Moreover, you need to set up monitoring tools to keep a firm hand on your database management. |
Our Amazon DynamoDB services
In terms of the CAP theorem, DynamoDB is an Available & Partition-tolerant (AP) database with eventual write consistency, just like Apache Cassandra. However, DynamoDB can still run in strongly consistent mode. When you issue a strongly consistent read request, DynamoDB returns a response with the most up-to-date data that reflects updates by all prior related write operations. At the same time, the strongly consistent read might be less available in the case of a network delay or outage.
Recently, we leveraged DynamoDB to store data in the mobile application developed for one of our customers. These iOS and Android applications allow for tracking the GPS location of mobile phones or tablets being carried by persons doing business for the organizer’s company.
We’re ready to help you with a Proof of Value project to identify market trends. ABCloudz is ready to deliver consistent, fast performance at any scale DynamoDB-based applications. In addition to that, you can consider DynamoDB in various types of projects, from pet-projects to enterprise solutions. DynamoDB best suits the following types of projects:
- Serverless web applications, mobile backends
- Microservices data store, IoT applications
- Real-time bidding platforms and advertising campaigns
- Responsive games for mobile, console, and desktop
- Flexible, highly scalable and fully managed database solutions
Getting started with Amazon DynamoDB
Airbnb, Capital One, Lyft, Samsung, and Toyota are already using Amazon’s NoSQL database to support their mission-critical workloads. ABCloudz can help you find the right path to design, deploy, and take full advantage of DynamoDB solutions. Particularly, our experienced architects can help you create the database model as a part of our Future-State Architectural Design offer. In addition to that, we can deliver the DynamoDB-based application.
For Apache Cassandra users, ABCloudz has hands-on experience with using AWS SCT data extraction agents for migrating Cassandra to DynamoDB. We can help you get started with our AWS Database Migration Service support offer.
Alternative solutions to Amazon DynamoDB
In addition to the above-mentioned, we have expertise with similar document-based data solutions from other vendors.