DATABASE TECHNOLOGIES

DATA STORAGE & MANAGEMENT

Rock-Solid Databases Powering Your Applications

Database development and administration Mission Beach Far North Queensland

A well-designed database is the foundation of every reliable application. Poor schema design, missing indexes, unbounded queries, and inadequate backup strategies are among the most common causes of application performance problems and data loss incidents we see in client environments. Our database specialists bring deep, cross-platform expertise — from the initial data model through to production DBA support, performance tuning, and cloud migration.

We work across all major relational database platforms used by Australian businesses: MySQL and MariaDB for web and SaaS applications, Microsoft SQL Server for enterprise on-premises environments, and Azure SQL for teams moving their data layer to the cloud. In every case, our goal is the same — a data layer that performs under load, is resilient to failure, and is backed up in a way you've actually tested.

MYSQL

Deep expertise in MySQL 5.7 and 8.x — schema design, stored procedures, replication topologies, and query optimisation for high-traffic applications.

MICROSOFT SQL SERVER

MSSQL design, T-SQL development, SSRS reporting, and SQL Server performance tuning on-premises or on Azure Virtual Machines.

AZURE SQL

Fully managed cloud database with automatic backups, geo-replication, elastic scaling, and built-in threat detection.

OUR DATABASE SERVICES

What We Do With Databases

From greenfield schema design to recovering a production database under pressure — our team has done it all. Here's a breakdown of the database services we provide.

Schema Design & Data Modelling

Good database performance starts with good design. We work with your development team to design normalised relational schemas that minimise redundancy while supporting efficient query patterns. For reporting-heavy workloads, we also design denormalised or star-schema structures that make analytical queries fast without burdening the transactional database. All schema designs are documented with entity-relationship diagrams and data dictionaries so your team can maintain them confidently over time.

Query Optimisation & Performance Tuning

Slow queries are the most common database complaint we hear from new clients. We use execution plan analysis, index advisor tooling, and query profiling to identify the queries doing the most damage to your application's response time. Fixes range from adding or restructuring indexes, rewriting correlated subqueries as joins, splitting large transactions, and updating statistics — through to recommending application-level changes like read replicas or query result caching. Most performance engagements produce measurable improvements within days.

Stored Procedures, Views & Functions

Moving complex business logic into the database layer — as stored procedures, views, or user-defined functions — can improve performance, enforce data integrity, and simplify application code. We write T-SQL and MySQL stored routines to encapsulate multi-step operations, implement row-level security through views, and create reusable scalar or table-valued functions. We also review and refactor existing stored procedure libraries that have grown unwieldy or perform poorly due to cursor overuse, implicit type conversions, or missing transaction handling.

High Availability & Replication

A database that goes down takes your application with it. We design and implement high-availability configurations appropriate to your uptime requirements and budget — MySQL Group Replication or read replicas for web applications, SQL Server Always On Availability Groups or Failover Cluster Instances for enterprise on-premises workloads, and Azure SQL Geo-Replication or Failover Groups for cloud-hosted databases. We document failover procedures and test them, so your team knows exactly what to do when — not if — a database node fails.

Database Migration & Upgrades

Migrating a database — whether between platforms (MSSQL to Azure SQL, MySQL 5.7 to 8.0, or on-premises to cloud) or as part of a larger application migration — carries significant risk if not planned carefully. We assess compatibility before starting, scripting schema and data migrations, running parallel validation to verify row counts and data integrity, and coordinating application cutover to minimise downtime. For large databases where downtime is unacceptable, we use change data capture or replication-based migration strategies to keep source and target in sync until the final cutover window.

Backup, Recovery & Security

An untested backup is not a backup. We review and implement backup strategies that meet your recovery time (RTO) and recovery point (RPO) objectives — including automated full, differential, and transaction log backups for SQL Server, binary log backups for MySQL, and point-in-time restore configurations for Azure SQL. We test restores on a schedule so you have documented proof they work. On the security side, we implement database-level encryption (TDE for MSSQL, encryption-at-rest for Azure SQL), audit logging, and least-privilege service account configurations.

LEGACY DATABASE SUPPORT

Older Databases — We Don't Walk Away

Many Australian businesses are running database platforms that are out of mainstream support — SQL Server 2008, MySQL 5.6, or Access-backed applications that were never meant to become mission-critical. Other agencies often decline to work with these systems. We don't.

Our team has the expertise to maintain, extend, and eventually migrate legacy databases to modern platforms — on a timeline that works for your business, not on an arbitrary deadline driven by our preference for new technology. If your application depends on an old SQL Server instance, we can keep it running safely while building a migration path that doesn't disrupt operations.

We also provide one-off database health checks — a structured review of your schema, indexes, query performance, backup configuration, and security settings that produces a clear prioritised list of what to fix and why.

Database Platforms We Support

  • MySQL 5.6, 5.7, and 8.x (including MariaDB)
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 through 2022
  • Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance
  • SQL Server Express (assessment and upgrade planning)
  • Microsoft Access (migration to SQL Server or MySQL)
COMMON QUESTIONS

Database Services — Frequently Asked Questions

We start by identifying the queries consuming the most resources — either through SQL Server's Query Store and Dynamic Management Views, MySQL's slow query log and Performance Schema, or Azure SQL's Query Performance Insight. Each query is then analysed using execution plans to identify missing indexes, table scans, inefficient joins, or parameter sniffing issues. We document findings and prioritise fixes by impact, so the highest-value improvements are made first.

Azure SQL is an excellent choice for most SQL Server workloads — it eliminates OS patching, provides automatic backups with point-in-time restore, includes built-in high availability, and scales compute and storage independently. The main considerations are compatibility (a few SQL Server features aren't available in Azure SQL), egress data costs if your application isn't also in Azure, and licensing if you have an existing SQL Server licence you want to bring. We can assess your specific workload and recommend whether Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, or SQL Server on an Azure VM is the right fit.

At a minimum, restore tests should be performed quarterly — or after any significant change to the database schema, size, or backup configuration. For business-critical databases, monthly or even weekly restore tests are not unreasonable. The test should verify that the database can be restored to a separate environment, that the data is intact, and that the restore completes within your documented Recovery Time Objective (RTO). Most businesses are surprised to find their backups have silent issues until they actually test them.

Yes. Cross-platform migrations require careful assessment of data type mappings, character set differences, stored procedure syntax, auto-increment vs. identity behaviour, and application-layer changes needed to switch drivers and connection strings. We use a phased approach: schema conversion and validation first, data migration and row-count verification second, application testing in parallel, and then a final cutover with a tested rollback plan. The migration is never rushed — we'd rather take an extra week in planning than lose data or cause a production incident.

MySQL 5.7 reached end-of-life in October 2023, meaning Oracle no longer releases security patches for it. Running an unpatched database engine is a genuine security risk, particularly if the server is internet-accessible. The upgrade to MySQL 8.0 involves some breaking changes — notably in authentication plugin defaults, reserved keywords, JSON handling, and removed deprecated features. We can assess your specific application against the 8.0 change list, script any required schema or query adjustments, and manage a low-risk upgrade process.
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