Scaling Azure Cosmos DB : Cost-Effective Migration to vCore
Challenge
The client was using Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB with the Request Units (RUs) model, which worked well for lower data volumes and fewer operations. However, as the database grew beyond 7 GB and read/write operations increased by 150%, costs rose significantly—resulting in a 400% increase over six months. The client needed a more cost-effective, scalable solution to handle the growing data volume and operations while maintaining performance.
Solution
To address the cost and performance issues, Synergy Technologies recommended migrating from the RUs model to Azure Cosmos DB vCore using a phased approach. Key steps included :
Schema-by-Schema Data Migration : Data was migrated schema by schema to minimize downtime and ensure data integrity.
Azure Data Factory Pipelines : Multiple data pipelines were created in Azure Data Factory, each tailored to the specific schema's needs. This enabled parallel data transfer, completing the migration in just 1 hour with zero data loss.
Testing & Performance Tuning : Post-migration performance testing ensured that the new vCore environment achieved an average response time of 85ms for read/ write operations, exceeding the target of 100ms. Fine-tuning of vCore settings further optimized performance.
Deployment & Continuous Monitoring : Deployment was managed with minimal downtime, ensuring a smooth transition to the vCore database. Azure Monitor was implemented for real-time performance monitoring and custom alerts to track key metrics like CPU utilization and response times.
Benefits
Cost Reduction : The migration led to a 400% reduction in overall costs by transitioning to the more predictable, cost-efficient vCore model.
Operational Efficiency : Post-migration, the system saw a 30% improvement in operational efficiency, with a significantly faster response time of 85ms for read/ write operations.
Minimized Downtime : The schema-by-schema migration approach reduced downtime to less than 10 minutes per schema, ensuring business continuity.
Scalability for Growth : The new vCore environment supports up to 15 GB of data growth, preparing the system for future scaling needs.