Couchbase Inc. today introduced a new release of Capella, its managed database service, that features an expanded set of data storage and security capabilities.

Nasdaq-listed Couchbase provides a popular NoSQL database of the same name. Capella is a managed, cloud-based version of the company’s database that automates maintenance tasks such as infrastructure management. 

Capella is designed to store both structured and unstructured information. Couchbase says the database can complete some queries with latency as low as a few milliseconds. Though Capella is a NoSQL database, it provides the ability to write queries in the SQL language, which makes the database relatively easy to use because many developers are already familiar with the language.  

Databases use a software component known as a storage engine to retrieve information for applications and save newly added data. By default, Cappella uses a storage engine known as Couchstore. The new release of Capella that Couchbase debuted today includes a second storage engine, Magma, that can provide better performance for certain enterprise applications.

Databases usually keep information on storage drives when it’s not actively used and move the information to memory when processing is carried out. Capella, in contrast, can skip the process of moving records from storage drives to memory by storing the records in memory from the outset. Skipping this step reduces the number of computations required to analyze data, which improves  performance.

Keeping information in memory isn’t always possible. Some enterprise applications have large, complex datasets that cannot be fully stored on a server’s onboard memory chips. The new Magma storage engine that Couchbase has added to Capella is designed to improve the performance of such applications.

When a large dataset can’t be stored in memory, it must be saved to flash or disk drives. The Magma storage engine includes several optimizations that speed  up the task of processing data stored in those drives. According to Couchbase, Magma enables Capella to perform some processing tasks up to four times faster than other technologies while using one-10th the memory.

A second set of improvements introduced for Capella today will help developers more easily build applications on the database service. According to Couchbase, the service has been updated with a streamlined interface that draws on design concepts implemented in popular development tools such as GitHub. The upgraded interface also makes it easier to access tutorials and other technical resources.

“As customers continue to invest in digital transformation, developers who are building modern applications need technologies that make them more productive,” said Scott Anderson, senior vice president of product management at Couchbase.  

The third major focus of today’s update is helping companies more easily meet cybersecurity requirements.

Couchbase has equipped Capella with administrative controls that meet the requirements set forth in the healthcare sector’s HIPAA data security regulation. According to the company, the controls will make it easier for organizations such as hospitals to store records in Capella. Couchbase has also added a new audit capability that organizations can use to track how important business data is accessed.

Photo: Couchbase