Self-Managed Databases
Self-managed databases refer to database systems that are installed, configured, maintained, and operated by an organization's own IT team rather than using a managed database service from a cloud provider. This approach gives developers and administrators full control over the database environment, including hardware, software versions, security settings, and performance tuning. It requires in-house expertise for tasks like backups, updates, scaling, and troubleshooting.
Developers should consider self-managed databases when they need maximum control over their data infrastructure, have strict compliance or security requirements that mandate on-premises deployment, or want to avoid vendor lock-in and cloud costs for predictable workloads. This approach is common in legacy systems, highly regulated industries like finance or healthcare, and organizations with specialized performance or customization needs that cloud services cannot meet.