That depends on:
(a) how complex your requirements are,
(b) whether it is a new or existing system,
(c) and what technology is used.
For new systems, we are normally able to give you a ballpark figure and then after some analysis an estimate. For changes to existing systems, we work on an hourly rate because there are normally too many unknowns.
Please contact us for more details.
Scope creep (where the size of the project changes after the estimate has been accepted) is one of the biggest challenges software developers face, and we are no exception.
There are many reasons for this, the main one is that perceptions change during the project. Only at the end of the project do we really understand what was required.
Before we start coding we will send you a “Scope of Works” document which we ask you to sign and return. In there we try to document what is within scope and what is not. That is a difficult process and may leave a number of “grey areas” and we allow a 20% contingency to cover those. If the effort is beyond that contingency then we will review the agreement with you.
During the normal business day (9 am to 5 pm AEST) there is almost always someone in the office to take your call.
For emails we normally respond within 2 hours and offer guaranteed response rates for clients on a support contract.
If we are hosting your database then we will put it on to one of our AWS servers located in Australia.
Click here to find out more about Amazon Web Services (AWS). We use them because they have amazing reliability, scalability and security. One of the few providers offering ISO 27001 which is required by a number of our medical and government clients.
Yes. We have a strict policy of never sharing your information with anyone outside of our organisation. We take care to make sure that all of our staff understand how confidential it is and all staff signs an NDA (a non-disclosure agreement) when they join DB Gurus.
For completely bespoke systems (e.g. existing systems or very custom systems) then you own the code exclusively.
That is the situation where we develop the software from the ground up, specifically for you. At the end of the
project, once all invoices are paid, we will give you a full copy of the source code upon request.
For systems built from our templates (e.g. new Access systems) you own the code on the condition that you do not
share that code with any other organisation.
For systems we built previously (e.g. TheDatabase) then we own the IP and the code and we license you to use it. If
you purchase a full license then we can supply the code for you to host on your own server or maintain yourself.
This will come with conditions about keeping the code within your organisation.
Most of the management and a lot of the design and analysis is done within Australia, so that you can explain your requirements to a “local”, in your time zone.
To keep our costs competitive a proportion of the programming and testing is done in the Philippines .
We prefer bank transfers (bank details are on our invoices) or alternatively you can pay via PayPal which accepts payments in AUD or USD. Please remember to include your invoice number on all payments so that we can allocate funds correctly. We do not accept American Express.
For new databases we normally give you a ballpark estimate for the whole project. Once we have done the analysis and design work we give you a completed specification with an estimate for the project. This allows you to see exactly what you will get and mitigate the risks of the project.
For fixes or changes to an existing database system, we work on an hourly basis and provide regular reports on progress made and issues encountered. The hourly rate depends on the level of commitment: the more hours you commit to, the lower the hourly rate.
Please contact us for more details.
For clients on a support contract the minimum is 30 minutes. For new clients our minimum is 4 hours.
We normally use a mix of agile and waterfall methodologies. We use them for prototyping and use cases, programming and testing.
If you want a data-driven website then we will happily provide a design to match your existing website or corporate colours. If you want a simple marketing website then we suggest you contact a dedicated website designer.
We guarantee our work for one month after user acceptance. If there are any problems with our work during this period we will fix it for free. We cannot guarantee 3rd party products but will assist you in getting those problems resolved.
We have completed work for clients in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. We have representatives in all these locations and we support them all.
Yes we do, up to A$5m for Professional Indemnity and A$20m Public and Products Liability.
The choice depends on your specific business needs:
Choose PostgreSQL if:
Choose SQL Server if:
Database implementation costs for Australian SMBs typically include:
Initial Setup (One-time costs):
Ongoing Costs (Annual):
Example Total Cost: For a 20-user SMB with on-premises SQL Server:
Cloud-native approach: ~A$73,560 annually (more predictable OPEX model)
Consider these factors
On-premises is better if:
Cloud databases are better if:
Hybrid approach works well for businesses with mixed requirements – keeping sensitive data on-premises while using cloud for development/testing environments.
SQL Server offers several editions for different business needs:
SQL Server Express (Free):
SQL Server Standard:
SQL Server Enterprise:
Recommendation for Australian SMBs: Start with Standard edition unless you specifically need Enterprise features like advanced analytics or unlimited availability groups.
Key performance optimization strategies:
Database Design:
Server Configuration:
Query Optimization:
Maintenance:
Cloud databases offer several advantages:
Cost Benefits:
Operational Benefits:
Scalability:
Security:
Major cloud providers offer Australian regions:
AWS (Sydney Region):
Microsoft Azure (Australia East/Southeast):
Google Cloud (Sydney):
Oracle Cloud (Melbourne/Sydney):
All these services allow you to keep data within Australian borders for sovereignty compliance.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), you must:
APP 11 – Security Requirements:
Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) Scheme:
Recommended Security Measures:
Yes, but with important considerations:
APP 8 – Cross-border Disclosure:
Sector-Specific Requirements:
Best Practices:
Data sovereignty refers to the concept that data is subject to the laws and governance structures of the country where it’s stored.
Why it matters for Australian businesses:
How to maintain data sovereignty:
Regular audits to verify data location compliance
Follow these essential security practices:
Access Control:
Data Protection:
Network Security:
Monitoring and Auditing:
Key requirements from Australian frameworks:
Essential Eight (ASD/ACSC):
ISM Database Controls:
SMB1001 Framework:
Implement a structured approach to database access management:
User Account Management:
Role-Based Access:
Authentication and Authorization:
Cost-effective performance optimization strategies:
Hardware Optimization:
Database Tuning:
Application Optimization:
Cloud Cost Management:
Monitor these key indicators:
Performance Indicators:
Capacity Indicators:
Scaling Options:
Implement comprehensive cost management:
Cost Monitoring:
Cost Optimization Strategies:
Budgeting and Planning:
Common cloud migration challenges for Australian SMBs:
Technical Challenges:
Business Challenges:
Compliance Challenges:
Mitigation Strategies:
Follow a structured migration approach:
Pre-Migration Phase:
Migration Execution:
Post-Migration:
Hybrid integration strategies:
Connectivity Options:
Integration Patterns:
Best Practices:
Essential backup and recovery practices:
Backup Strategy:
Australian Framework Requirements:
Recovery Objectives:
Comprehensive disaster recovery planning:
DR Strategy Components:
Implementation Options:
Testing and Maintenance:
Key legal requirements:
Privacy Act Requirements:
Industry-Specific Requirements:
Best Practices:
Secure backup implementation:
Encryption Requirements:
Access Controls:
Storage Security:
Compliance Monitoring:
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