Simplify your database collection to reduce TCO.

• The vast majority of businesses already own two or more database platforms. Thus, database decisions are more about dealing with the existing collection than choosing a database.
• Acquire only what is essential. For example, unless BI functionality is absolutely necessary, many businesses won’t benefit from upgrading from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2.
• Cost is the biggest driver of database choices. Don’t just calculate initial costs, but hash out a detailed long-term TCO over five or six years. You may be surprised by the results.
• Simplify as much as possible. It is often possible to save money by cutting down on licenses, physical servers, operating systems, or even eliminating a database platform altogether.
• Cloud database offerings aren’t ready for primetime yet, but keep an eye on them to know when cloud concerns have been addressed.