What type of database do you need?
The choice of database software is largely determined by the amount of data and the target audience.
There's little point in having an Oracle database that can handle millions of records and thousands of concurrent users if you're the only user or have a few hundred records. Conversely, it would be a little unwise to try and run the Inland Revenue using a database created in Microsoft Access!
If you want a small, easily used, low-cost database, either for a single user or a
limited networked environment then you will be hard pressed to do better
than Microsoft Access. Access databases provide an interface that
is familiar to users of Windows and the software is often bundled with the
computer. In addition, Access can deal with many complex tasks that
will satisfy most users of small databases. Access also makes a good front-end for
more powerful database servers like SQL Server or Oracle, giving the
benefits of maximum security and ease of use.
If you need high security or the potential to deal with many simultaneous users,
for example if you are providing data access via the web, you should be considering
MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle or similar high-end
database servers.
Sunadal Data Solutions can advise on
the right software choice and build a system that is tailored to your
needs.