15 Critical DBaaS Migration Questions Every CTO Needs to Ask for a Successful Migration
As enterprises modernise application architectures, database cloud migration has become a central topic in technology planning discussions. Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS) is increasingly evaluated as an alternative to self-managed database environments, particularly for organisations seeking operational consistency, scalability, and governance alignment.
However, migrating to DBaaS is not a simple infrastructure decision. It introduces changes in responsibility models, cost structures, performance controls, and compliance frameworks. For CTOs and technology leaders, the decision requires structured evaluation rather than platform-led enthusiasm.
This blog provides 15 critical questions that organisations should consider as part of a DBaaS migration checklist, helping teams approach managed database evaluation and DB migration planning.
India Cloud Database and DBaaS Market Context
Industry research indicates that the India cloud database and DBaaS market generated revenue of approximately USD 505.9 million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 2,009.5 million by 2030, reflecting increasing enterprise adoption of managed database platforms.
The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 21.8% between 2024 and 2030, driven by cloud-native application development, data-intensive workloads, and the need for operationally efficient database management models.
1. What Problem Are We Solving by Moving to DBaaS?
Before evaluating DBaaS platforms, organisations should clearly articulate why the migration is being considered. Is the goal to reduce operational overhead, improve availability, support modern workloads, or strengthen governance? Without clarity on the underlying drivers, DBaaS risks becoming a tactical shift rather than a strategic improvement.
2. Which Workloads Are Suitable for DBaaS?
Not all databases benefit equally from managed services. Transaction-heavy systems, analytics platforms, AI-driven applications, and search-centric workloads may each have different requirements. A critical part of DB migration planning is determining which workloads are appropriate for DBaaS and which may need alternative deployment models.
3. How Will Performance Be Measured and Monitored?
In self-managed environments, performance tuning is often tightly controlled by internal teams. With DBaaS, organisations must understand what performance metrics are exposed, how latency is measured, and what observability tools are available. Performance expectations should be defined before migration, not after.
4. What Is the Shared Responsibility Model?
DBaaS shifts operational responsibilities between the provider and the customer. It is important to clarify who owns:
- Backup configuration
- Recovery procedures
- Security patching
- Availability management
This clarity is essential for risk management and audit readiness.
5. How Does the Cost Model Work Over Time?
While DBaaS can reduce operational effort, cost structures often shift from capital-style provisioning to usage-based operating models. CTOs should evaluate:
- Scaling behaviour under load
- Cost predictability during peak usage
- Long-term cost trends as data volumes grow
This is a core element of any managed database evaluation.
6. How Are Backups, Recovery, and Disaster Scenarios Handled?
Data protection remains a primary concern during database cloud migration. Teams should assess:
- Backup frequency and retention policies
- Recovery point and recovery time objectives
- Disaster recovery architecture and testing processes
These considerations should align with business continuity requirements.
7. What Security Controls Are Available at the Database Layer?
Beyond infrastructure security, DBaaS platforms should provide controls such as:
- Role-based access
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Audit logs and activity monitoring
Security capabilities should support both operational needs and compliance expectations.
8. How Does the Platform Support Compliance and Data Residency?
For organisations operating in regulated sectors, data location and governance are non-negotiable. DBaaS platforms must clearly state where data is hosted and how compliance requirements are addressed.
This question is particularly relevant in India, where regulatory and sector-specific guidelines influence database deployment choices.
9. Can the Platform Support Hybrid or Distributed Architectures?
Many enterprises operate in hybrid environments, with workloads distributed across on-premises, private cloud, and public cloud platforms. DBaaS migration planning should consider integration with existing architectures rather than assuming a full replacement model.
10. How Will Existing Data Be Migrated?
Data migration itself can introduce risk if not planned carefully. Questions to ask include:
- What tools or processes support migration?
- How is data consistency maintained during transition?
- What downtime, if any, is expected?
Clear answers here reduce disruption during migration.
11. How Does the Platform Handle Scaling?
Scaling behaviour differs significantly across DBaaS platforms. CTOs should evaluate whether scaling is:
- Automatic or manual
- Granular across services
- Predictable under real-world workloads
Scalability should align with application growth patterns.
12. What Visibility Do Teams Retain Post-Migration?
Managed services reduce operational effort, but teams still need visibility into performance, usage, and issues. The level of transparency offered by the DBaaS platform directly affects operational confidence.
13. How Will Application Development Be Affected?
DBaaS can change how developers interact with databases. Support for modern data models, query languages, and analytics capabilities should be evaluated in the context of developer productivity and long-term maintainability.
14. What Is the Exit or Portability Strategy?
Every DBaaS decision should include an exit strategy. CTOs should understand:
- Data portability options
- Migration paths to other platforms
- Risks of long-term dependency
This is a critical but often overlooked part of a DBaaS migration checklist.
15. How Does DBaaS Align with Our Long-Term Architecture Strategy?
Finally, DBaaS should be assessed as part of a broader technology roadmap. The platform should support evolving application architectures, analytics needs, and governance models without constraining future decisions.
How ESDS Database-as-a-Service Aligns with These Considerations?
ESDS offers Database-as-a-Service designed for organisations operating in regulated and data-intensive environments.
ESDS DBaaS is delivered on ESDS Sovereign Cloud, supporting India-hosted deployments aligned with data residency and governance requirements. The service is structured to support transactional systems, analytics workloads, AI-driven applications, search-centric platforms, and distributed environments through a managed database platform.
By combining managed operations with sovereign infrastructure delivery, ESDS DBaaS provides organisations with a framework to evaluate database cloud migration while maintaining control over data, security, and compliance considerations.
Conclusion
Migrating to Database-as-a-Service is not simply a technology upgrade. It is a structural change in how data platforms are operated, governed, and scaled. By asking the right questions early, organisations can approach DBaaS migration with clarity and reduce long-term risk.
For CTOs, a structured DB migration planning approach ensures that DBaaS adoption supports operational goals, regulatory expectations, and future architecture decisions rather than creating new constraints.
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