The Royal Commission is the main contributor at growth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As organizations across various sectors aim to distinguish themselves through software and digital applications, the quantity and diversity of managed databases are on the rise. The IT sector in RC established a flexible architecture using Nutanix Database Services, transforming IT into the essential enabler required for modern IT services. With Enhanced productivity and Operational Uniformity Streamline patching, upgrades, cloning, and backup procedures to maintain operational consistency and allocate more time for tasks of greater value.
| Faster deployment and performance | Less downtime | Simplified management of databases |
|---|---|---|
| ERP database backup reduced from 13 hours to 30 minutes | Elimination of disruptions and downtime ensuring rapid and continuous access to critical data | Exceptional experience with Nutanix Customer Support |
RCJY Digital Transformation Strategy was accelerated by adopting Nutanix’s database solution and provided a unified solution for our strategic initiatives. The Nutanix Database solution has exceeded our expectations in terms of performance and management efficiency. We have observed significant improvements in database performance, with faster query response times and enhanced productivity for our users. The consolidation of management tasks into a single platform has streamlined our operations, reduced administrative overheads and increased agility.
With its directive of planning, developing, managing, and promoting petrochemicals and energy-intensive industrial cities, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) plays a key role in the economic advancement of Saudi Arabia. In line with Vision 2030, the Commission has been increasingly leveraging digital innovations to enhance operations, streamline services and present itself as the first choice for investors in the industrial sector.
However, the complex multi-vendor environment being used to host RCJY’s databases was starting to inhibit its Commission’s ability to meet these objectives and achieve its ambitions. “Our heterogeneous infrastructure greatly complicated management and maintenance. We faced challenges in optimizing the performance of our databases and struggled to scale our infrastructure efficiently to meet growing demands,” said Adnan Al Agili, Director IT Infrastructure, Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. “Critical business processes that relied on efficient data access and analysis were being affected, and this had a direct impact on the performance of the many services we conveniently offer our end users via digital channels” he added.
Keen to overcome the complexity and limitation of its heterogeneous environment,
the Royal Commission was on the lookout for a comprehensive solution from a single vendor. The guidance of independent consultants pointed Al Agili and his IT team to Nutanix.
“There was clear consensus among these industry experts that Nutanix's distributed architecture and integrated data optimization techniques were unparalleled” Al Agili said. “While our incumbent vendor had solutions specific to their databases, they were expensive and did not cover other types of database engines, limiting our future expansion plans. Moreover, the feedback from existing Nutanix Database customers was overwhelmingly positive and their recommendations further solidified our confidence in choosing Nutanix” Al Agili added.
Nutanix Database service can streamline the management of hundreds to thousands of databases. Rapidly and effortlessly deploy new databases, automate essential yet time-consuming administrative functions such as patching and backups, and select suitable operating systems, database versions, and extensions to fulfill application and compliance needs.
Deploying the Nutanix Database solution has transformed the IT environment at the RCJY. "Today, we have a hyperconverged infrastructure that seamlessly integrates with our databases. The environment is unified, simplified, and highly scalable, enabling us to efficiently manage and optimize our database workloads" said Al Agili.
Faster response times in database queries
He states that significantly faster database, backup for ERP DB used to take 13 hours and reduced to 30 mins which is a daily operation, also query response times have been directly linked to enhanced digital experiences and the ability of RCJY’s staff to work more effectively. “The Nutanix Database solution has exceeded our expectations in terms of performance and management efficiency. We have observed significant improvements in database performance, with faster query response times and enhanced productivity for our users. The consolidation of management tasks into a single platform has streamlined our operations, reduced administrative overheads, and increased agility" Al Agili said.
Reduced downtime period
The high availability and robust security features of the Nutanix Database solution means disruptions and downtime is effectively eliminated, ensuring rapid and continuous access to critical data. “All our digital services ultimately rely on the availability and effective querying of our databases. Thanks to Nutanix, the potential for downtime – either due to internal issues, or external attacks – is near-zero. This means that existing and potential investors are assured an exceptional experience whenever they engage through our digital channels,” Al Agili said. One of the most underestimated aspects were the database server reset times that has been enhanced from 10 minutes to less than a minute (more than 90% enhancement).
Nutanix not only meets RCJY’s present requirements but enables the Royal Commission to effortlessly embrace new IT trends and paradigms. “Nutanix Database supports multiple database engines, allowing us to expand and incorporate different types of databases in our future plans” Al Agili said.
Efficient database operations
Al Agili also lauded the support he and his team have received from Nutanix throughout their engagement with the vendor saying, “Our experience with Nutanix's customer support and service has been exceptional. The Nutanix team has been highly responsive, providing timely assistance and resolving any issues that have arisen. Their expertise and commitment to customer satisfaction have been instrumental in ensuring a smooth implementation and continued success.”
The royal commission’s digital transformation journey is continuing. Using the solution, the royal commission will analyse its current infrastructure and increase the resources. Oversee the complete lifecycle of databases, starting from provisioning and scaling, and extending to version upgrades and automated patch management. Nuatnix Database Servcies is forecasted to help the Royal Comission of Jubail and Yanbu reduce the database total cost of ownership (TCO) by 50% over the coming 3 years.
“Looking ahead, we plan to further strengthen our relationship with Nutanix. We are considering expanding our usage of Nutanix solutions beyond database services to other areas of our IT strategy, leveraging their hyperconverged infrastructure technology. We are confident in Nutanix's ability to support our future growth and continue to deliver innovative solutions that meet our evolving business needs” Al Agili concluded.