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AhmedElbadry - PeerSpot reviewer
NMS Service Automation & RPA Technical Lead at Vodafone
Real User
Top 10
Easy to use, stable, and offers good technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "Technical support is helpful."
  • "Sometimes they tell us we can't upgrade the database for now as there's a vulnerability Oracle couldn't find a solution for."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is a black box for us. I'm working on it for maintenance and check everything - check the cables, check the relationship between cables to serve this product, et cetera. Sometimes our customer needs to extract some information from the system via our extension for the database to extract this info directly from the database and not from the system. 

We didn't interact more on the database so the use cases are mostly related to the extraction of information in tables. To check the database status, we have another system, a geosystem, so we check the replication between the two systems. Some operations are a little more than general development on the database.

What is most valuable?

The database is very easy to use. 

We are making some automation scripts. We are working to minimize and reduce the logs and it's very helpful to be able to have the capabilities to do this.

The solution is very stable. 

Technical support is helpful.

What needs improvement?

We didn't have any complaints about Oracle Database except for the vulnerability we see in some aspects of the product. Sometimes we receive some vulnerability email from the security team and it's sent to the product owner to check the vulnerability. Sometimes they tell us we can't upgrade the database for now as there's a vulnerability Oracle couldn't find a solution for. After one month or two, they're back to us and let us know they've solved it. They need to do a better job of patching security issues they find and making those patches happen faster.

The solution is a bit expensive.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have an intermediate amount of experience with Oracle. I've used it for a while. I've been used it for about a year.

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March 2025
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution is very good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's very reliable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is very scalable. Ours was managing about 5,000 servers all over Egypt. The performance and historical transaction on sites is good, and if you need more storage on your database, you can do so with relative ease.  

We have 200 users logged in at any given time.

How are customer service and support?

Support is very good. If I have an issue, I simply open a case with Oracle. They are very helpful and responsive. We're satisfied with the support. They've been good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We did previously use Microsoft SQL. We found it to be very fast and responsive. We're still using it, actually. It is the database for our distribution.

How was the initial setup?

I cannot speak to the implementation process. I'm not sure how easy or difficult the setup is as I did not handle any aspect of it.

That said, if I have the manual and steps for installation, I can install it.

We have three people on staff that can handle maintenance. They're all engineers.

What about the implementation team?

We had a vendor that handled the implementation for us.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I find the pricing to be high. They should work to lower it if possible. 

We pay a yearly licensing and support fee to Oracle. I can't speak to the exact costs, however.

What other advice do I have?

I can't recall the exact version number of the solution, however, it's my understanding that it is version 11.

I'd rate the product at a nine out of ten. We've been quite pleased with the overall capabilities so far.

I'd recommend the solution to other users and companies. We've been very happy with its capabilities overall. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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    reviewer1549332 - PeerSpot reviewer
    Head of Department at a transportation company with 10,001+ employees
    Real User
    Good in-memory and Data Redaction features, scales well, and the support is fast
    Pros and Cons
    • "The Data Redaction feature is easy to use and we are quite happy with it."
    • "Sometimes, the patches supplied by Oracle to update the software do not work."

    What is our primary use case?

    We are a solution provider and Oracle Database is one of the products that we implement for our customers. We also use it ourselves. It is used to store large amounts of data including things such as customer data and shipment data.

    We have our own private cloud so it is possible to host Oracle in that way, but we more commonly use an on-premises deployment because the size of the data is huge. In some ways, we have no choice but to host it on-premises.

    What is most valuable?

    The Data Redaction feature is easy to use and we are quite happy with it.

    With Oracle, we are happy with the performance the majority of the time. It is only when we have a very large amount of data that it begins to slow down.

    What needs improvement?

    Sometimes, the patches supplied by Oracle to update the software do not work. Ultimately, we have a lot of issues because of this because we have to use trial and error to solve our performance issues.

    We have a lot of performance issues, especially with a huge amount of data being using during a peak time.

    In the future, we expect that Oracle will incorporate some NoSQL functionality. Right now, there is a lot of demand for storing JSON data. We would like to perform actions similar to that of Elasticsearch. One of the reasons that we choose Oracle is because they are quite aggressive when it comes to improving their product, and they are always providing new features.

    For how long have I used the solution?

    We have been using Oracle Database for a couple of years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    Stability-wise, Informix is better than Oracle. Oracle gives us patches to improve the product, but sometimes the patches do not work and we subsequently have issues. By comparison, Informix does not provide many patches. Instead, remains stable for a few years without needing many changes.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    Oracle is quite good in terms of scalability. 90% of our applications run on Oracle, so we have a lot of users.

    How are customer service and technical support?

    We have bought quite a large number of licenses, so the support that we get is very good. They are fast, normally responding to us within one hour. This is according to an agreement that we purchased from them.

    How was the initial setup?

    When we purchase a server, it is another team that installs Oracle. After this, we create the database schema inside of Oracle.

    What about the implementation team?

    We have two types of people in the company who help us with Oracle. One handles the normal, day-to-day operations, whereas the other is used for deployment, setup, and maintenance.

    When we buy a new server, the deployment team completes the installation and initial setup. After installation, they help us to fine-tune the database. When the application is deployed in production, they help us to troubleshoot day-to-day issues that we encounter.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    We have a global license and it is renewed every two years. Seeing as a lot of our applications use Oracle, our team has been able to negotiate a better deal.

    What other advice do I have?

    In summary, this is a good product and I recommend it. For people who have a huge volume of data and they need good response time, Oracle is a good choice for them.

    I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

    Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

    On-premises
    Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Implementer

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      March 2025
      Learn what your peers think about Oracle Database. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2025.
      851,371 professionals have used our research since 2012.
      Kevin Honde - PeerSpot reviewer
      Data Solution Architect at Econet Wireless Zimbabwe
      Real User
      Great performance, very scalable, very stable, and easy backups
      Pros and Cons
      • "I found the ease of backup, partitioning, and robust indexing most valuable. The main feature of Oracle is the structure of the database. The way your backups are taken on the online backup system and the way it restores and handles partitioning of your data are also valuable. Its performance is great, and it is also very flexible."
      • "It should have flexible licensing across different platforms. It has got different licensing models for Intel Power and SPARC servers."

      What is our primary use case?

      We are using it for different applications. We are using it for our data warehousing, ERP, and EBS systems.

      What is most valuable?

      I found the ease of backup, partitioning, and robust indexing most valuable. The main feature of Oracle is the structure of the database. The way your backups are taken on the online backup system and the way it restores and handles partitioning of your data are also valuable. Its performance is great, and it is also very flexible.

      What needs improvement?

      It should have flexible licensing across different platforms. It has got different licensing models for Intel Power and SPARC servers.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using this solution for more than 15 years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      It is very stable.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      It is very scalable. You can start with a small server, and you can scale it up by just increasing your licenses.

      In terms of the number of users, for our data warehouse, there is only one application user. Other users interact with the database through the application. After you log onto the application, the application logs in to the database with a single user ID.

      How are customer service and technical support?

      Oracle technical support is a bit tricky. They want you to first use all the available resources, such as the online knowledge base and so on. After you have exhausted those, you can approach your technical person by logging in to the system.

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      We have used other database systems, such as MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.

      How was the initial setup?

      Its installation requires someone who actually knows the database setup, such as an Oracle DBA. For a production system, you would need an experienced person.

      You first need to set up the environment such as servers, storage, etc. It might take you two days to set up the environment. The installation of the database might take you a day or two depending on the features that you want to add. If it is just a straightforward database, it would normally take a day. If you want to do partitioning and replication, it would take another two or three days.

      What about the implementation team?

      I handle the installations. Its deployment and maintenance are minimal. You need three people: one specialist in hardware, one specialist in operating systems, and one specialist in database software.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      You buy it initially, and then you pay for yearly support if you need support. If you don't need support, you can also use it without the support.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would recommend this solution. We plan to keep using this solution. 

      I would rate Oracle Database a nine out of ten.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      On-premises
      Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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        Product manager at Metrodata Electronics Tbk PT
        Real User
        Great for building disaster recovery systems, very stable, and offers good scalability
        Pros and Cons
        • "On-prem, Oracle is the number one database technology."
        • "Oracle needs to improve its cluster technologies. They need to improve in the cluster technology using ARC due to the fact that sometimes people think that they have a redundant server when they are using ARC with the cluster and think that will increase the performance. In reality, if they are using ii with a big workload, sometimes the performance is not increasing, and can sometimes actually impacts it in such a way that there's some degradation in the performance."

        What is most valuable?

        The best feature on Oracle Database is the Data Guard. It's great if you want to build some sort of disaster recovery solution.

        ARC is one of the best features. It's quite simple and flexible. It offers really simple guidance that helps make using it a breeze.

        On-prem, Oracle is the number one database technology.

        What needs improvement?

        Oracle needs to improve its cluster technologies. They need to improve in the cluster technology using ARC due to the fact that sometimes people think that they have a redundant server when they are using ARC with the cluster and think that will increase the performance. In reality, if they are using ii with a big workload, sometimes the performance is not increasing, and can sometimes actually impacts it in such a way that there's some degradation in the performance. 

        Oracle has covered all the aspects of the market requirement. Let's say someone who searches for a security solution that has high availability, security, manageability, and performance. That's all of the IT requirements, basically, and they are all covered by Oracle. There aren't features lacking, in that sense. That said, while that's a true statement in terms of on-premises deployments, and Oracle really is is the number one database technology, when it comes to the cloud, it's still a question about how good Oracle really is. Most of our customers are using Azure or maybe AWS. Not Oracle. That's the one area that Oracle should improve.

        For how long have I used the solution?

        I've been working with the solution for 11 years. I mostly only handle the core technology.

        What do I think about the stability of the solution?

        Right now, I would say that Oracle is one of the best solutions for our customers in terms fo stability. If they handle big productions or process a lot of paper, this is the perfect choice for them.

        What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

        If they need to, companies can easily add more nodes to the cluster. It's easy to use its cluster technology to scale. I would say it's rather easy to expand the solution if you need to.

        How are customer service and technical support?

        If we talk about the MOS, My Oracle Support, it's more of a self-service. Currently, sometimes it's not as reliable as we wish it was. Mostly, our internal team handles support as we can't really rely on Oracle. We'd only go to them if the problem is related to the product, for example, if it's got some bugs or something like that. For troubleshooting, our customers come to us for assistance. From a technical aspect, we are quite confident that we can support all of the customer's needs ourselves without using Oracle.

        Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

        We previously used MySQL, although that too is an Oracle solution. It's part of our portfolio alongside Oracle DB.

        What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

        When people talk about Oracle, especially Database, most of them mention that Oracle is an expensive product. However, if it's suitable or not or if it really is "expensive" depends on their requirements. Today, Oracle is one of the best choices, regardless of pricing. 

        Even though on paper their pricing looks expensive, everything can be negotiated. Companies may be able to come to an understanding with Oracle at a price point they can accept.

        Which other solutions did I evaluate?

        In our market, there are a lot of open-source products like EnterpriseDB. There are also commercial products like PostgreSQL. With Postgre you have to have MySQL with it right now. 

        If a customer prefers to use an open-source product, I'm quite confident with MySQL.

        What other advice do I have?

        We are an Oracle Platinum Partner.

        I'd first advise any company considering Oracle to learn the benefits first before they talk about the pricing. We like to do an assessment with the customer right away. The first thing we need to know is their pain points and basic requirement and also if they have a common problem in their system. I will judge that against the benefits of Oracle's technology, which is in the database. At the end of the day, if the features can solve your problem, then money comes as a secondary concern. 

        I'd rate the solution nine out of ten. There isn't a perfect solution on the market, however, this comes pretty close.

        Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

        On-premises
        Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner

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          it_user420015 - PeerSpot reviewer
          President at Oraclewizard.com Inc
          Video Review
          Vendor
          The enhancements to the PL/SQL language provide a way to secure data from SQL injection flaws.
          undefined

          What is most valuable?

          I'm going to be discussing the enhancements to the PL/SQL language in what I'm going to call the bad old days, what we did was we put all of our application code and all of our application objects into one schema. What happened when you would do that is you would have say a SQL injection bug in one piece of code and you could easily point it to very sensitive information. As a matter of fact, I believe Barclay's said 97% of the data leakage is from SQL injection.

          Oracle made an enhancement to the language. They added two things that were very powerful. One was the ability to add roles directly to a PL/SQL package. The other thing they added was an accessible by clause such that if I am going to have objects in one schema, instead of granting access to those objects to an entirely other schema such as your app code, I can just grant the access to that object to the program that actually calls it so I could have sensitive objects granted to a sensitive access code. Anybody else tries to get to it, you're not going to be able to get to it.

          Then they added one other thing because what you want to do is you want to layer your security. Then they said make it accessible-by. When you accessible-by clause in, the object that is granted access to it, it'll execute, but if anybody else tries to execute that package to get to the object, they're going to get failures. That is what's got me most excited right now about the Oracle language and what they've been working with.

          The value is in locking down your data, every time we turn around, we see on TV, GAO got hacked. Somebody's losing their information. You have companies out there going, "We'll protect your private information if you ever lose your information." We shouldn't have to do that. As stewards of this sensitive data, we need to build a security solution around what's sensitive and now Oracle's given us more and more powerful tools in order to implement that.

          How has it helped my organization?

          The biggest benefit is you're closing holes to SQL injection bugs. If I have a program, say program unit A has a PL/SQL injection bug, and you haven't implemented this, if I can inject into A, I can get to the sensitive information. But now by granting the role to the package and also granting accessible by, saying this package is only accessible by this other package, if A tries to get in, it says no, you don't even have rights to execute the code to get to the data.

          What needs improvement?

          In the next release, I'd like to see the ability to shred ghost data. I'd like to see the ability to when you run a data pump export of encrypted data and you did not specify encrypted in the command line, the data will be saved unencrypted and it'll spit up an error message, but it's just a warning saying, "otherdata is unencrypted." That does not get into the audit trail. That needs to be in the audit trail so an auditor can later go and say, "Why did we save data unencrypted that's sensitive?"

          What do I think about the stability of the solution?

          The stability is fabulous. I have one customer that has scaled this out and the application's now reaching over 100,000 users and we have not had any problems with it.

          How are customer service and technical support?

          Oracle's technical support, I use it about once or twice a year. Normally, if I call support, we've got a real problem and they've always been very helpful.

          Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

          My current customer, it's because a law was passed. This is a new architecture. Similar in terms of the language, but it's enhancements to the language, but what we're doing is building an architecture on top of what the language is now giving us.

          What about the implementation team?

          It is much easier to set up this solution, designing it in from the beginning because if you try to go back and retrofit your code, it can be done, but it's much more labor intensive. You should always build your security in upfront. Retrofitting code, it's difficult. It can be done because you have to separate your stuff out and sometimes, it may seem like trying to pull the salt out of soup. It depends on just how tightly integrated it is.

          Which other solutions did I evaluate?

          Considering the work was already being done in the Oracle and PL/SQL, this was just an enhancement to what we were already doing.

          What other advice do I have?

          I would give it a 9 because when we first started doing it, we found just little irritating niggles. I wish they had implemented it a little bit different, but overall a 9.

          Absolutely do it because if you value your data, you want to be able to secure your data from SQL injection flaws.

          Disclosure: PeerSpot contacted the reviewer to collect the review and to validate authenticity. The reviewer was referred by the vendor, but the review is not subject to editing or approval by the vendor.

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            ICT officer at Basaba
            Real User
            Top 5
            Has valuable security features, but they could provide ease of data migration
            Pros and Cons
            • "The platform's security features and stability are commendable."
            • "They could provide ease of migration and competitive pricing for the database."

            What is our primary use case?

            We primarily use the product to store textual data and support applications like our HR and case management systems.

            What is most valuable?

            The platform's security features and stability are commendable.

            What needs improvement?

            They could provide ease of migration and competitive pricing for the database.

            For how long have I used the solution?

            We have been using Oracle Database since 2005.

            What do I think about the stability of the solution?

            I rate the product's stability a nine. We haven't encountered significant issues.

            What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

            Around 500 users access Oracle Database regularly in our company. We haven't faced scalability issues; it's more than enough for our current needs. 

            How was the initial setup?

            Once you're familiar with the product, setup becomes easier. Single-node setups are quick, but integrated configurations can take more time.

            What about the implementation team?

            We get help from integrators to set up the database.

            What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

            The platform is highly-priced. 

            What other advice do I have?

            I rate the security features an eight or nine.

            I would hesitate to recommend Oracle Database solely due to its high cost. If pricing were more competitive, I'd be more inclined to recommend it.

            Overall, I rate the product a six out of ten.

            Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

            On-premises
            Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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              JohnMitchell - PeerSpot reviewer
              jmitchell@natbankmw.com at NBM
              Real User
              Fast, very stable, and suitable for large sites
              Pros and Cons
              • "It is very fast. The response times are very fast."
              • "Its price can be improved."

              What is our primary use case?

              It is for our core banking system. We are using version 19c, and the data is version eight.

              How has it helped my organization?

              All the database issues that we had have been resolved by using 19c. The database used to crash frequently, and now, that's a thing of the past. We haven't had any crashes in two months.

              What is most valuable?

              It is very fast. The response times are very fast.

              What needs improvement?

              Its price can be improved. 

              In terms of features, we've just started using it, so we haven't yet come up with a list of features to be improved.

              For how long have I used the solution?

              We have been using this solution for about two months.

              What do I think about the stability of the solution?

              It is very stable. We haven't had any crashes in two months.

              What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

              It is very scalable. In terms of its usage, it is used by our core banking system. So, it is used by one system. It is not used directly by people. We don't have any plans to increase its usage.

              How are customer service and support?

              It is quite good.

              Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

              We were using Oracle but on different infrastructure.

              How was the initial setup?

              It is complex, but it is doable. Our people were trained to do it and had the money to do it.

              Its deployment did take long. We started the programming processes around August, and it went live only at the end of January.

              What about the implementation team?

              Oracle helped us implement it.

              What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

              It is quite expensive.

              What other advice do I have?

              It is a very good product, especially for large sites. I would rate it a nine out of 10.

              Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

              On-premises
              Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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                reviewer1524876 - PeerSpot reviewer
                Developer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
                Real User
                Reliable, stable, and easily scalable
                Pros and Cons
                • "The solution can scale well."
                • "It takes a significant amount of time after submitting an initial SR with Oracle Tech Support before your case reaches a technical expert with whom you can actually work on the issue resolution. Before that, you have to deal with people who are not experts."

                What is our primary use case?

                The solution is primarily used for support servicing. The whole IT infrastructure uses Oracle. Oracle is a focal point. It's transactional processing as well as data warehousing.

                What is most valuable?

                The solution's most valuable aspect is its reliability. It just works. You never have to worry about it.

                I've worked with the solution so well, I have a very strong understanding of it as a whole. I know everything about it. I'm very comfortable with it.

                The solution can scale well.

                The stability of the product is excellent.

                What needs improvement?

                Installing, configuring, and supporting an Oracle RAC system is a very complex task that requires special skills. A novice who has never done it before will struggle. Therefore, I think that in the future all Oracle RDBMS customers will gradually switch to cloud databases, preferably, to Oracle cloud.

                It takes a significant amount of time after submitting an initial SR with Oracle Tech Support before your case reaches a technical expert with whom you can actually work on the issue resolution. Before that, you have to deal with people who are not experts.

                Oracle RDBMS is expensive.

                For how long have I used the solution?

                I've been working with Oracle since 1994. I have a long history with the solution.

                What do I think about the stability of the solution?

                The stability of the solution is excellent. The performance and reliability are great. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It's very good overall.

                What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

                Oracle is very, very scalable. If a company needs to expand the solution, it can do so.

                Our organization is quite large. There are hundreds of IT personnel using Oracle.

                How are customer service and technical support?

                I've dealt with technical support in the past and I personally do not find them to be very good. 

                Usually, it starts very slowly. Before you get to the right people, you go through the people who hardly understand the problem and they keep asking stupid questions. Then only after a couple of weeks, you finally get in touch with the person who really understands. It's at that moment that your work starts. However, before that, you have to go through the process of finding someone to answer your question. 

                They need to make the process faster or hire people who understand the solution better.

                Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

                Currently, our organization is moving away from Oracle. They're moving to Amazon AWS and they're considering several databases, as a potential alternative. This is due to the fact that Oracle is very expensive.

                In truth, I'm not sure the company will ever be able to get rid of Oracle, as it would require rewriting everything. Currently, Oracle is the basis for everything. Just to switch to something else, they would have to rewrite everything. It will be a huge undertaking, and it would take several years.

                How was the initial setup?

                The initial setup is not exactly straightforward. Real-life Oracle installation is very complex and a regular non-proficient person can hardly do that. I am not an Oracle DBA, however, many years ago I was an Oracle DBA. I don't have the certification. However, when I tried to install Oracle on a cluster of Linux machines to do some cleaning, it took me several weeks. I had to go through Oracle documentation, and I was trying and failing. Finally, I made it work, however, it was really difficult. Even for me, with so much knowledge of the system, Oracle installation is really difficult. Years from now, likely nobody will be doing it at all. Everybody will be using Oracle cloud instead.

                We have quite a few people maintaining the solution, as we are a sizable organization.

                What about the implementation team?

                It's best to have a professionally licensed individual assist in the implementation process.

                What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

                The pricing is extremely high. It's one of the reasons our organization is looking for an alternative. They would like to move away from Oracle to lower their costs.

                What other advice do I have?

                I'm a customer and end-user.

                I would advise organizations considering Oracle to not do on-premises. The best way, nowadays, is just to pay money to Oracle and use Oracle-managed databases from the cloud. They don't require a data center for the hardware. Cloud computing, is what people should do instead.

                I'd rate the solution at a ten out of ten. That said, I am aware that it is quite an expensive option for most organizations. Even our company, which is quite sizeable, finds the overhead costs high.

                Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.

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