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Example dashboard for an Oracle database: orders, invoices, stock and payroll running normally. The quarterly patch was tested in staging and applied in the agreed window. The last restore test succeeded, with its timings recorded. Paid features are enabled only where licensed.

Oracle & Database Engineering

Outsourced Oracle databases: your ERP keeps running and your costs stay predictable

In many companies, orders, invoices, stock and payroll all run through an Oracle database that nobody looks at until it slows down or stops. We administer it as an outsourced service or alongside your in-house IT team. Patches follow a schedule, backups come with tested restores and migrations have planned downtime. We also keep an eye on costs, starting with licences.

Let’s talk about your databaseVersions and support deadlines
Scheduled patching
tested in staging, applied in agreed maintenance windows
Tested recovery
scheduled restore tests, with the timings formally recorded
Only what you are licensed for
no paid feature used without your knowing

Example · not a real system

01 · copy the link to this sectionThe situation

Your database keeps the business running, even when nobody is looking at it

If the database stops, orders, shipments and invoices stop with it. If it slows down, everyone notices at month end.

The database is where your ERP (your business management software) writes and reads every piece of data: customers, orders, stock movements, invoices. The DBA (database administrator) keeps it healthy. That covers space, performance, updates, backups and access.

As long as everything works, this work is invisible. It shows when it is missing. Patches get postponed. You are on a version that your ERP vendor will stop supporting. One day, the person who knew the environment moves to another role. A rushed upgrade costs more than a planned one.

Example: orders, invoices, stock, payroll and shipments all run through the same Oracle database. The month-end close takes longer every month, until it runs past the time the offices open. A reminder flags patches stalled for two quarters, a restore test never verified and the person who set up the environment no longer with the company.

DBA

If the database stops, the business stops

Orders, shipments and invoices depend on the same system.

DBA

Skipped patches, known vulnerabilities

Oracle’s fixes are public, including to anyone hunting for unpatched systems.

DBA

Working to a deadline costs more

A planned upgrade chooses its window. An urgent one has to take whatever window it gets.

02 · copy the link to this sectionWhat we do

Our database work, item by item

You can hand over everything or just one part: day-to-day administration, a project or a targeted job. The scope is written down before we start.

DBADay-to-day administration Administration and patching We look after space, user accounts, overnight jobs and error logs. Patches follow a public calendar. Oracle releases its cumulative fixes on the third Tuesday of January, April, July and October. Since May 2026 it has also released targeted security fixes in the other months. We test them in staging, then apply them to production in the agreed window.
DBAPerformance tuning Performance and tuning We deal with slow queries, missing indexes, badly chosen routes for reading the data (execution plans) and in-database code that needs reworking. We measure before and after every change, using the tools covered by your company’s licences.
Example of a production database and its replica in sync, with a verified backup, a fallback plan and an agreed window. DBABackups and continuity Backups, recovery and continuity Backups are taken with Oracle’s own tools. Where your edition allows it, we add a standby database that is always kept in sync. Restore tests run on a schedule and end in a written record. It shows how long it takes to get back up and running, and up to what point the data can be recovered.
DBAUpgrades

Version upgrades

We upgrade from versions that no longer receive patches to 19c, and from 19c to 26ai. First we check that your ERP vendor supports the new version. Then we test everything on a copy. 26ai requires the database to be organised differently. If a conversion is needed, it goes into the plan. Versions and support deadlines
Example of an Oracle database migration from 19c on premises to a new 26ai environment. Continuous data replication, staging tests and a synchronised replica are already done. The agreed window is in progress, with checks and sign-off to follow. If a check fails, the fallback to the original system is applied. DBAMigrations Migrations and cloud We move databases to a new server, a different operating system, or to Oracle’s cloud or another provider’s. With continuous data replication, downtime shrinks to a short window decided in advance. The return to the original system is planned and tested before the switch. If a check fails, we roll back.
DBASecurity

Database security

Common problems are accounts with more privileges than they need, shared accounts, default passwords and access that nobody logs. We put them in order with least privilege, encryption where it is needed and access auditing. When the database is part of a wider security assessment, we work with our Cybersecurity division. Cybersecurity

03 · copy the link to this sectionCosts under control

Where an Oracle database costs more than it should

The cost of a database is more than the vendor’s fee. Here are four items to check before your next renewal.

Updated 16 September 2026

Example licence snapshot for an Oracle database: Enterprise Edition in use. Diagnostics Pack and Tuning Pack not licensed and disabled. Active Data Guard not used. Included analysis tools in use. The CONTROL_MANAGEMENT_PACK_ACCESS parameter changed from its default DIAGNOSTIC+TUNING to NONE. A comparison between paid Extended Support and a planned upgrade. Processors needing a licence reduced to the actual workload.
  1. Paid features enabled out of the box. Some paid Oracle features are enabled as soon as the database is installed. Simply using them, even without knowing, is enough for a licence audit to flag them. We configure the database to match the licences you actually hold and work with the tools that are included. For IT: in Enterprise Edition, the CONTROL_MANAGEMENT_PACK_ACCESS parameter defaults to DIAGNOSTIC+TUNING.
  2. Paid updates. For some versions, when Oracle stops updating them, it still offers three years of paid updates (Extended Support). It is worth comparing that with a version upgrade planned well in advance.
  3. Oversized servers and cloud. Oracle Database licences are calculated on the server’s processors or on the number of users, with minimums tied to the processors. A machine bigger than you need, physical or in the cloud, can push up the licence bill as well.
  4. An edition chosen without considering continuity. Standard Edition 2 costs less than Enterprise Edition, but it does not include the always-in-sync standby database or the diagnostic tools. The choice should be made knowing how much downtime the business can afford.

What you receive: a technical snapshot of the editions, options and features in use, with the points that need clarifying. Contractual matters remain with your lawyer and the person who handles your commercial relationship with Oracle.

Sources (consulted on 16 September 2026)

04 · copy the link to this sectionReference

Versions and support deadlines: how long Oracle keeps releasing patches

Updated 16 September 2026

Oracle releases fixes and security patches for each version for a set period. After that, some versions get three years of paid updates. Then only support remains, with no new patches. For management, one thing matters: which version you are on, and how long it stays covered.

Timeline of Oracle Database support as of September 2026. 19c has Premier Support until December 2029 and paid Extended Support until December 2032. 26ai, available since October 2025, has Premier Support until December 2031, with Extended Support still to be defined. 21c has Premier Support until July 2027 and no Extended Support. 23ai became 26ai with the October 2025 update. 11g, 18c and 12c have had no new patches since 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, and only Sustaining Support after that.

Oracle Database versions

VersionOracle fixes and patchesRecommended next step
Older versions (11g, 12c, 18c)No security patchesUpgrade or migrate
19cPremier Support until December 2029, Extended Support until December 2032Keep patches up to date and plan the move to 26ai without rushing
21cPremier Support until July 2027, with no Extended SupportAn ‘innovation’ release: move to 26ai before support ends
26aiLong-term release, available since October 2025. Premier Support until December 2031, Extended Support still to be definedThe target for your next upgrades, once you have checked that your ERP is certified for it

Next Oracle quarterly patches: 20 October 2026 · 19 January 2027 · 20 April 2027 · 20 July 2027. Since May 2026, Oracle has also published targeted security fixes in the other months.

Sources (consulted on 16 September 2026)

05 · copy the link to this sectionHow we work

From snapshot to ongoing management

Four steps. They are the same for a one-off job and for an engagement that lasts years.

Technical assessment

We review versions, edition and licences, connected applications, existing backups and workloads. We work with read-only access through named, logged accounts, under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

Plan

We set priorities, agree maintenance windows with the people who use the ERP, and define the criteria for deciding whether to go ahead or roll back.

Execution

Everything happens in staging first, then in production. Every change is backed by a verified backup and a planned rollback.

Ongoing management

This means scheduled checks, patching to a calendar, restore tests, a periodic report and an annual review of the environment.

What do you receive?
You receive a technical document for the people who run your systems, and a summary for management that sets out risks, costs and deadlines clearly. For ongoing management, response times are written into the contract.
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
It depends on how many databases, which versions and how much routine work. For many companies, the first step is the technical assessment, which also tells you the timescales. The first conversation carries no commitment. If there is work to be done, you receive a written proposal for the initial assessment, usually one or two days of work with the people involved. After the assessment comes the proposal for the project, with phases, timing and costs.

06 · copy the link to this sectionThe first hours

Database down or data corrupted? Three things not to do

The contact form is not an emergency channel. This guidance applies to any Oracle database. The technical details are known to whoever administers your database.

Updated 16 September 2026

  1. Don’t improvise repairs or keep restarting. First save the error messages. You need them to choose the right fix.
  2. Don’t leave anything running that writes data. Suspend batch jobs and integrations, in agreement with whoever knows the application.
  3. Don’t touch anything without a copy. Before any attempt, secure the current state.
Source (consulted on 16 September 2026)

07 · copy the link to this sectionOracle data and artificial intelligence

The Company Brain starts from the data you already have. Often, that data is in Oracle

The Company Brain is the company’s own searchable memory. An AI assistant that answers questions about orders, stock levels or a customer’s terms has to read the ERP. Before connecting it, three things are decided: which tables or views it can see, with what permissions, and on which copy of the data, so that it does not slow down the people who are working on it.

The assistant reads the data through dedicated accounts and cannot change it. Where needed, it works on an always-in-sync copy instead of the live database (a paid option of Enterprise Edition).

26ai brings search by meaning, rather than by exact word, into the database itself (vector search). Oracle states that it is included with no extra fee.

Company BrainAI agents and integrations
Example of a Company Brain answer citing a procedure and an ERP table read in read-only mode, with permissions applied by department.

08 · copy the link to this sectionPrinciples

What we don’t do

  • We don’t promise migrations without downtime. Downtime can be reduced and planned. How long it lasts depends on the edition, the platform and the applications.
  • We don’t use paid features that your licence does not cover, not even for a quick diagnosis.
  • We don’t give legal advice on Oracle contracts. We provide the technical snapshot. Negotiation stays with your lawyer and whoever manages your relationship with Oracle.
  • We don’t work on production without a verified backup and a planned rollback.
  • We don’t keep knowledge of your environment to ourselves. Configurations, procedures and test records are documented and handed over to you, even if one day you change provider.
You only really get to know a database on the day you have to move it.

09 · copy the link to this sectionFrequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about Oracle databases

Can an external DBA see our data?
Administering a database requires broad access, so the rules are set in writing before we start. That means a non-disclosure agreement, named and logged accounts, connections agreed with your IT team, and no copies of data outside your company without authorisation. If personal data is involved, the relationship is also governed by the GDPR. When the engagement ends, all access is closed.
Do you also work on versions that no longer receive patches?
Yes, and it is often the first job to do. On an unpatched version, we reduce the risks through what can still be controlled: access, network, backups and logs. Meanwhile we prepare the upgrade or migration, checking with your ERP vendor which version the application is certified on. The aim is to get out of that situation with a plan and a date.
Can we migrate without stopping the business?
Downtime can be reduced to a short window decided in advance, but it cannot be eliminated. With continuous replication of the data to the new system, the switchover is limited to the moment when the applications connect to the new target and the checks are run. How short it is depends on the edition, platform, data volumes and applications. Some replication techniques need separate licences, and we tell you so beforehand.
Should we stay on our own servers or move to the cloud?
It depends on total cost, licences, performance and data constraints. The cloud takes away hardware management, not database management, and it changes how licences are counted. We compare the options on the same figures: subscription fees, licences, network, backups and migration downtime. Sometimes the best choice is to stay, with a new server.
Can you help us with Oracle licensing?
On the technical side, yes. We work out which editions, options and features are installed and in use, and we configure the database so that it does not use anything your licences do not cover. On the contractual side, no. Interpreting contracts and negotiating with Oracle remain with your lawyer and whoever manages your relationship with Oracle. We give them the technical data.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the scope: how many databases, which versions and editions, how much routine work and which projects. There is no price list that fits everyone. The first conversation carries no commitment. If there is work to be done, you receive a written proposal for the initial assessment, usually one or two days of work with the people involved. After the assessment comes the proposal for the project, with phases, timing and costs.

10 · copy the link to this sectionObservatory

From the Observatory: data and Oracle

Analysis and guides from the Strategic editorial team on Oracle databases, upgrades and continuity.

All articles on data and Oracle

The essential parts of this page print as a short summary of a few pages, without images or invitations to get in touch.

11 · copy the link to this sectionContact

Let’s talk about your database

A few lines are enough: your Oracle version if you know it, the ERP that runs on it, what is wrong and any deadlines. We reply by email, usually within two working days.

Please do not put passwords, server addresses or data extracts in the form. We exchange them later, over the channels we agree.

Or write to us:WhatsAppstaff@strategic.sm

On WhatsApp, messages are answered by Strategic’s AI assistant. Please do not use it for confidential information.

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