Hostway Corp., which provides infrastructure and Web application hosting, now offers automated database administration services in the cloud. Here are some quick details for MSPs that are looking for application-centric cloud services.

Hostway partners with Stratavia, which makes data center automation software, to provide the service, dubbed NetDBAs. The database administration-as-a-service offering aims to let IT personnel install new databases, administer users, apply patches, and manage backups, according to Hostway.

Businesses have options for accessing cloud-based NetDBAs: database servers may be housed in a Hostway data center, at the customer’s location, or in a third-party data center, Hostway noted. The NetDBAs service currently manages Microsoft SQL Server, but future versions will support additional databases.

Hostway’s pricing for NetDBAs starts at $375 per month per database instance.

At the moment, NetDBAs is “offered a la carte both to Hostway server customers and to customers who don’t presently have servers with Hostway,” a company spokeswoman said. She said Hostway has some SQL Server promotions underway that will be combined with the DBA offer, adding that more details will be coming shortly.

NetDBAs isn’t strictly a tool for in-house IT shops, however.

“A managed services provider or consultant could very easily use NetDBAs to manage databases on behalf of clients,” the spokeswoman said. “There will be more logistical support for this in future versions.”

That could help MSPs keep pace with service providers already offering remote DBA services. Those include companies such as Bluewolf, Database Specialists Inc., Ntirety, and Rolta TUSC.

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