Recent Oracle announcements for its Oracle Database customers include new end of support dates, changes in product release timelines, expanding cloud partnerships and decisions on Exadata integration. Who do these apply to, how does it impact your IT operations and what is the best path forward?
As the global leader of third-party support, management and innovation solutions for Oracle, we are here to demystify and provide you with options to help maximize the full value and potential of your Oracle Database investment.
Update 1: Oracle Database 19c support dates have been extended
Oracle has extended Premier Support for 19c until December 2029, with Extended Support available through December 2032.1 While Oracle presents this as a benefit, it can mean you’ll be locked in to rising support costs for years to come — costs that often don’t translate into comparable business value.
For example, Oracle Extended Support does not include certifications with new third party software/hardware, yet the annual support costs remain fixed year after year. Simply extending the support dates does not translate to more value for Oracle Database customers.
Many businesses find that 19c already delivers the performance and functionality they need, making continuous payments for extended support an expensive and unnecessary burden. However, according to a recent Rimini Street survey of Oracle Database customers, 30% of respondents state concerns with Oracle’s long support resolution times.
In the same survey, 80% of Oracle Database respondents are actively seeking more cost-effective and flexible alternatives to optimize their database investments while maintaining stability and innovation. With Rimini Street, we can help you dramatically reduce your database support expenses, freeing up budget for innovation while ensuring continued high performance and security.
For example, consistently cuts costs and drives innovation by using their savings from Rimini Street’s support for Oracle software to invest in eco-friendly energy solutions and digital transformation, which has reinforced their leadership and status in the energy sector.
Businesses that choose to remain on 19c can still take advantage of AI enhancements such as vector embedding and CLOB datatype functionality. Rather than paying more for Oracle support over an extended period, you can take this as an opportunity to optimize costs and invest in strategic initiatives for growth.
Update 2: 23ai on-premises is delayed again
Oracle Database 23ai on-premises release remains in limbo, with no firm availability date in sight. While Oracle continues to delay the release, many of its AI capabilities have already been backported into Oracle Database 19c, allowing on-premises customers to leverage AI functionality without waiting.
Organizations that were counting on 23ai for AI-driven enhancements now have an opportunity to step back and ask: is Oracle Database 23ai worth it?
Forward-thinking organizations are embracing a multi-database approach, integrating best-of-breed AI capabilities that deliver greater flexibility and long-term value. Rimini Street helps organizations develop their strategic approach, providing vendor-agnostic guidance that prioritizes your vision and business needs first, tools and technologies second.
Update 3: Oracle’s multi-cloud partnerships expand, but puts its customer’s roadmap flexibility at risk
Oracle has been actively growing their multi-cloud partnerships with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud and AWS, positioning these partnerships as a win for customers. While multi-cloud capabilities can provide improved performance and reduced latency, they also come with an important caveat — partnerships through Oracle keep customers locked into its ecosystem.
Many organizations are finding that while Oracle’s cloud partnerships offer some benefits, they also introduce financial and operational risks. Costs can escalate quickly, and businesses may find themselves constrained by Oracle’s licensing structures. A smarter approach is to take advantage of true multi-cloud flexibility by prioritizing best-of-breed solutions that allow for innovation beyond Oracle’s walls.
Rimini Street helps organizations analyze cloud costs, optimize multi-cloud strategies and avoid licensing issues. With the right planning, businesses can maintain control of their IT investments while leveraging cloud capabilities to serve both short and long-term goals.
Update 4: No GPU integration for Exadata
Oracle has opted not to integrate GPUs into Exadata, stating that most workloads on the platform do not require AI processing. Instead of re-engineering Exadata to support NVIDIA GPUs, Oracle is waiting for Intel’s next-generation AI processors, leaving some organizations questioning the platform’s AI readiness.
While this decision may create concerns about performance limitations, the reality is that Exadata remains highly capable for many enterprise workloads, but not necessarily for all organizations with extreme AI-processing demands.
For businesses that require advanced AI capabilities, this is an opportunity to explore hybrid solutions that complement Exadata rather than committing to an expensive full-scale migration. Organizations can integrate AI workloads with specialized, high-performance computing environments while maintaining Exadata for core database processing.
Take control of your database strategy and costs
Businesses don’t need to follow Oracle’s roadmap, putting them in control of your IT strategy. Low-value support disguised as a gift in the form of extended deadlines, unpredictable changes to product strategy, and vendor-driven cloud mandates don’t have to dictate the future of your IT environment.
Organizations that take a proactive approach by evaluating alternative support models, embracing cost-effective AI strategies and optimizing their multi-cloud approach will be in the best position to stay competitive, flexible and drive business value.
Rimini Street has helped thousands of Oracle customers take control of their IT strategy, cut vendor dependency and unlock budget for innovation. If you’re ready to learn how to transform your Oracle Database into a vehicle for growth, connect with Rimini Street today.
[1] https://support.oracle.com/knowledge/Oracle%20Database%20Products/742060_1.html
