Online Database Development
An online (or web based) database is one that resides on a server and is accessed via a web browser. You can access the database from anywhere in the world via a standard internet connected PC.
There a number of advantages of web based databases and a few disadvantages. The advantages are:
No special hardware requirements, any computer with a web browser can access the database
Database can be run on a web server so you can access it from any computer connected to the internet
Development cost is typically lower than stand alone software
Development time is typically shorter than stand alone software
The disadvantages are:
You may need a reasonably decent server if you want to run the database in-house
Stand alone software can perform more complex tasks more easily then web based databases
Running from a web server may incur ongoing hosting costs
Web based databases are more exposed to hacking and security theats.
Note however that many of these shortcomings can be overcome without too much difficulty.
Online or web based databases are generally easier and quicker to set up than traditional stand alone software. It is therefore cheaper to develop. Also, because you only need a web browser to access the database, it's very easy and cheap to add on more users. You may need to upgrade your server if you keep adding users but that's still cheaper than paying for new software licences for each new user.
Development costs can vary greatly depending on the size of the project but we can develop a simple online database for as little as $500
If you want to host your database on a web server you will need a Windows based server as our databases use Microsoft Access or SQL Server and Active Server Pages (ASP) which are generally only available on Windows servers. If you already host your web site on a Windows server we can probably use your existing service for little or no additional cost. Otherwise we can provide database hosting for as little as $5 per month.
Hosting your database on a web server means you can access the database from any computer in the world, provided that it has an internet connection.
Please call or email use for more information or an obligation free quote.