What is Amazon Aurora?
Amazon Aurora is a MySQL and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud. It combines the performance and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open-source databases.
Key Features
- Performance: Up to 5x faster than standard MySQL and 3x faster than standard PostgreSQL.
- Storage Auto-Scaling: Automatically grows storage up to 128 TiB. You don't need to provision storage in advance.
- High Availability: Replicates data 6 ways across 3 Availability Zones (AZs). It can lose up to 2 copies of data without affecting write availability.
- Aurora Serverless: An on-demand configuration where the database automatically starts up, shuts down, and scales capacity up or down based on your application's needs.
Exam Tips
[!IMPORTANT] Performance & Compatibility: If a question asks for a database that is "MySQL compatible" but "5x faster" or "PostgreSQL compatible" but "3x faster", the answer is Aurora.
[!NOTE] Resilience: Remember the "6 copies across 3 AZs" rule. It is extremely durable by default.
Common Use Cases
- Enterprise Applications: CRMs, ERPs, and other critical business systems requiring high uptime.
- SaaS Applications: Multi-tenant applications that need auto-scaling storage.
- Serverless Workloads: Using Aurora Serverless for infrequent or unpredictable workloads to save costs.