Amazon’s Relational Database Service is a managed database that provides simplified RDBMS features with replication. RDS sits on top of a MySQL engine and provides replication between instances and across availability zones. The instances are limited to managed connections and the system is accessible as a service through the API or SQL interface. AWS RDS Aurora is a MySQL-compatible managed SaaS solution for DevOps and local MySQL HA needs.

Local High Availability (HA)

30 seconds downtime with DNS change and Scheduled maintenance windows.

Multi-Region and DR

Does not support active/active. Failback requires manual reprovision; Aurora Global takes a few minutes.

Scalability

Supported but cost of growth is unpredictable

Performance

Requires database proxy (not included), distributed file system and app awareness (changes).

Deployment and Application Changes

Depends on use case. Apps with advanced MySQL 8.0 and MariaDB features may not work.

TCO

Expensive if your deployment is complex, scaling or requires Support. Basic support > 12 hours, business-critical Enterprise support extremely expensive. Managed DBaaS still requires database administration.

MySQL Version

"Compatible MySQL" based on MySQL 5.6, 5.7, and 8.0, and no MariaDB 10.x support

Infrastructure and Platform

AWS only. No Hybrid-Cloud or Multi-Cloud.

Completeness

For multi-region deployments it is not integrated, requires additional components for extra cost.

Maturity

Mature for HA, but DR with Aurora Global is not mature and RDS Proxy is basic and costs extra.

Security

Built-in and for PCI, HIPAA compliance.

Management and Monitoring

UI, region specific - can only view a single region at a time. Full monitoring, though enhanced monitoring is charged extra.