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António Macave
António Macave

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Benefits of Separating the Database and Other Services from the Web Application

Separating critical components, such as the database, queue services (e.g., RabbitMQ, Apache Kafka), and cache services (e.g., Redis), into physically distinct servers is a practice that offers several advantages, particularly in performance, scalability, and security. This practice also aligns with the 4th principle (Backing Services) of the 12-Factor App https://12factor.net/backing-services, which emphasizes the separation of responsibilities and the construction of applications with independent services.

Performance
Separating these components eliminates resource contention within the same machine. By dedicating specific servers to each service, resources like CPU, RAM, and storage are optimized for the exclusive use of one service. For example, we know that the database consumes significant CPU and memory resources, so allocating more resources to it can be an efficient strategy.

Security
This approach creates an additional layer of security, aligned with the Defense in Depth strategy. When all services are on the same server, exploiting a vulnerability in one service can affect others, leading to cross-contamination risks. The physical separation of services provides isolation, limiting the impact of a potential security breach.

Scalability
Scalability is one of the main advantages of this practice. By separating services, each can be scaled independently without affecting the others. For example, if the web application experiences a traffic surge, we can add more memory and CPU to the application server without impacting other services, such as the database.

This approach also aligns with the 4th principle of the 12-Factor App, which advocates for the separation of responsibilities between different components of the application. By adopting this practice, we ensure a more flexible and resilient architecture, allowing services to be scaled and managed independently, which is essential to face the challenges of modern applications.

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Top comments (1)

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aguiar_bila profile image
Aguiar Bila • Edited

Gostei muito do artigo é fácil de entender e bastante rico

E penso que essa separação também facilita na gestão

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