E-Business
Oracle Database 12c Becomes First Database Designed for the Cloud
As organizations embrace the cloud, they seek technologies that will transform business and improve their overall operational agility and effectiveness.
Oracle Database 12c is a next-generation database designed to meet these needs, providing a new multitenant architecture on top of a fast, scalable, reliable, and secure database platform.
By plugging into the cloud with Oracle Database 12c, customers can improve the quality and performance of applications, save time with maximum availability architecture and storage management and simplify database consolidation by managing hundreds of databases as one.
Oracle Database 12c introduces a new multitenant architecture that simplifies the process of consolidating databases onto the cloud; enabling customers to manage many databases as one – without changing their applications.
The foundation of Oracle Public Cloud Services, Oracle Database 12c can greatly benefit customers deploying private database clouds and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors looking for the power of Oracle Database in a secure multitenant model.
Oracle Database 12c, optimized on SPARC and Intel® Xeon® processors, is a major release. It introduces 500 additional features and is the result of 2,500 person-years of development and 1.2 million hours of testing, plus an extensive beta program with Oracle’s customers and partners.
Oracle Database 12c is also co-engineered with Oracle’s world record setting SPARC T5 servers.
An Oracle Database 12c Webcast featuring SVP Database Server Technologies Andy Mendelsohn and architect Tom Kyte is scheduled for July 10, 2013 at 9:00 am PT.
Oracle Database 12c addresses the key challenges of customers who are consolidating databases in a private cloud model by enabling greatly improved efficiency and lower management costs, while retaining the autonomy of separate databases.
Oracle Multitenant is a new feature of Oracle Database 12c, and allows each database plugged into the new multitenant architecture to look and feel like a standard Oracle Database to applications; so existing applications can run unchanged.
By supporting multi-tenancy in the database tier, rather than the application tier, Oracle Multitenant makes all ISV applications that run on the Oracle Database ready for SaaS.
Oracle Multitenant manages many databases as one and can increase server resource utilization and reduce the time and effort required for database upgrades, backup, recovery, and much more.
The multitenant architecture provides virtually instantaneous provisioning and cloning of databases, which makes it an ideal platform for database test and development clouds.
Oracle Multitenant works with all Oracle Database features, including Real Application Clusters, Partitioning, Data Guard, Compression, Automatic Storage Management, Real Application Testing, Transparent Data Encryption, Database Vault, and more.
To help customers efficiently manage more data, lower storage costs and improve database performance, Oracle Database 12c introduces new Automatic Data Optimization features.
A Heat Map monitors database read/write activity enabling Database Administrators to easily identify the data that is hot (very active), warm (read-only) and cold (rarely read) stored in tables and partitions.
Using smart compression and storage tiering, Database Administrators can easily define server managed policies to automatically compress and tier OLTP, Data Warehouse and Archive data based on the activity and age of data.
Oracle Database 12c includes more security innovations than any other previous Oracle database release; helping customers address evolving threats and stringent data privacy regulations.
New Redaction capabilities allow organizations to protect sensitive data such as credit card numbers displayed in applications – without changes to most applications. Sensitive data is redacted at run-time based on pre-defined policies and account session information.
Oracle Database 12c also includes new Run-Time Privilege Analysis, enabling organizations to identify privileges and roles actually being used, helping revoke unnecessary privileges and enforce least privilege with confidence that business operations will not be disrupted.
Oracle Database 12c introduces several high availability features, as well as enhancements to existing technologies that enable continuous access to enterprise data.
Global Data Services offers load balancing and failover to globally distributed database configurations.
Data Guard Far Sync extends zero-data-loss standby protection to any distance – not limited by latency.
Application Continuity complements Oracle Real Application Clusters and masks application failures from end-users by automatically replaying failed transactions.
Seamless integration with Oracle Enterprise Manager 12c Cloud Control enables administrators to easily implement and manage new Oracle Database 12c functionality including the new multitenant architecture and data redaction.
The comprehensive testing features of Oracle Real Application Testing can help customers validate upgrades and consolidation strategies by concurrently testing and scaling real production workloads.
Oracle Database 12c enhances in-Database MapReduce capabilities for Big Data through SQL Pattern Matching that enable immediate and scalable discovery of business event sequences such as financial transactions, network logs and clickstream logs.
Data scientists can better analyze enterprise information and Big Data with new in-database predictive algorithms and with further integration of open-source R with Oracle Database 12c.
“The innovations in Oracle Database 12c were developed with our customers’ cloud requirements very much in mind,” said Andrew Mendelsohn, senior vice president, Database Server Technologies, Oracle.
“The new multitenant architecture makes it easier for customers to consolidate their databases and securely manage many as one. It also offers customers other capabilities for cloud computing such as simplified provisioning, cloning and resource prioritization without resorting to major application changes.”
“Oracle’s User Group Communities actively participated in the development and testing of Oracle Database 12c,” said Michelle Malcher, President of the Independent Oracle Users Group (IOUG). “We are delighted to see across the board enhancements, and the new architecture will make it so much easier for customers to consolidate their databases onto the cloud.”
“A key challenge facing enterprise data center managers today is the cost, complexity, and inflexibility represented by the large numbers of production databases operating in fixed server configurations, most of which are substantially underutilized,” said Carl Olofson, Research Vice President for Database Management and Data Integration software research at IDC.
“It is in the nature of most enterprise database server software that those databases cannot be moved about or redeployed easily, and attempting to combine them through consolidation raises other manageability and complexity challenges for database administrators. Oracle Database 12c offers an elegant solution to this problem that not only enables deployment flexibility and eases the administration of multiple databases, but does so in a way that requires neither changes to applications nor a steep learning curve for DBAs. It also sets up the data center well for any move in the direction of Cloud Computing.”
The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) presents its report on .ng domain name registration and renewal statistics for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting the continued expansion of Nigeria’s digital footprint. The data underscores a consistent and significant adoption of the nation’s Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), reinforcing its pivotal role in the burgeoning Nigerian digital economy.
During the period spanning January to March 2025, a total of 40,791 .ng domain names were recorded. This figure comprises 22,236 new registrations and 18,555 renewals, indicating a healthy balance between the acquisition of new digital identities and the sustained commitment of existing domain name holders to their online presence.
Analysis of the registration trends within the quarter reveals a notable upward trajectory, with a 13.92% increase in domain name registrations observed between February and March 2025.
This growth signifies an increasing recognition of the importance of a localized online identity by a diverse range of stakeholders, including individuals, startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and larger organizations.
Notably, the .com.ng extension continues to be the dominant choice, accounting for over 60% of both new registrations and renewals. This reaffirms its status as the preferred domain name extension for Nigerian businesses seeking to establish a credible and locally relevant online brand presence while maintaining global accessibility. The sustained popularity of .com.ng underscores its perceived value among Nigerian entrepreneurs and enterprises seeking to secure their digital real estate.
This upward trajectory isn’t happening by chance. The Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) has remained intentional in its drive for digital inclusion and domain adoption. Through public education, training via the .ng Academy, outreach campaigns, and partnerships with stakeholders across the tech ecosystem, NiRA has consistently advocated for the importance of owning a local domain. The current standing of .ng as the second most registered ccTLD in Africa reflects the efficacy of these efforts.
Digital adoption in Nigeria is no longer just about being online—it’s about owning your digital identity. And with a .ng domain, Nigerians are better positioned to assert that identity, connect with local and international audiences, and gain better control over their digital footprints.
As we look toward the rest of 2025, the Q1 results serve as a strong signal: more people are embracing the digital future, and the .ng domain is increasingly becoming their first step.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) of Nigeria has launched a new digital identity verification tool called the NIN Authentication (NINAuth) application.
The initiative, which forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to strengthen the country’s national digital identity management framework.
The launch builds upon Nigeria’s comprehensive unified digital identity system that has been transforming access to financial services and government programs.
The NINAuth application introduces several key features focused on data security and privacy.
The platform requires explicit user consent before sharing identity information for Know Your Customer (KYC) processes, giving individuals greater control over their personal data.
The system provides seamless access to various government services, including SIM card registration, immigration applications, passport processing, tax filings, and financial transactions.
The development follows significant investment in Nigeria’s digital identity infrastructure, including a $45.5 million support from the World Bank as part of the Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project.
As the official service for integration with NIMC’s backend infrastructure, NINAuth enables secure verification processes across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
The application is available for download on both the Google Play Store and Apple iOS App Store for users of the National Identification Number (NIN).
The rollout represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to digitize government services and strengthen identity verification processes.
“NINAuth is a cutting-edge suite of services including web, API, and mobile verification designed to enhance data security, protect privacy, and simplify access to government services,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC.
“The platform introduces a robust layer of protection, empowering individuals with greater control over their personal information.”
The implementation supports the objectives of the recently established Nigeria Digital Identification for Development Project Ecosystem Steering Committee, which oversees the country’s digital identity initiatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the launch of the NINAuth app and directed its use for verification and authentication across all MDAs.
The application provides a secure single sign-on solution for accessing government services and social protection programs while maintaining strict data privacy controls.
The centralized approach to digital identity management represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and its commitment to modernizing government services.
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has set in motion a machinery to checkmate the booming copyright piracy market in the country.
Copyright piracy is said to cost Nigeria an annual loss estimated at billions of naira.
Despite the absence of a coordinated or official statistics to gauge the quantum of loss, John Asein, director general, NCC, said as far back as 2019, Nigeria lost N918 trillion ($3 billion) annually to digital piracy.
The financial damages severely impact local businesses and innovation efforts.
The commission, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), has started a project to develop strategies and tools to address the menace.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on the WIPO project to address online copyright piracy in Nigeria, Asein said digital technologies have unlocked tremendous opportunities for the creative and innovation sectors.
The NCC boss said technology also poses serious challenges, including online piracy, which he said is growing rapidly.
He said: “Pirate sites continue to emerge rapidly, with statistics indicating a 6.7 per cent increase in user visits. A significant percentage of these users are students aged between 18 and 24, with social media and messaging platforms becoming major gateways for accessing pirated content.”
He added: “No industry is immune. The most affected sectors include television (43.6 per cent), publishing (27.5 per cent), film (12.9 per cent), music (7.0 per cent), and software (6.2 per cent).
“Far beyond mere statistics, the victims are no longer only foreign right owners. Many Nigerians in these sectors have also been bruised and their creative enterprises ruined.”
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