What is the primary purpose of a cloud-native database?

The primary purpose of a cloud-native database is to provide a database service designed for cloud optimization. Cloud-native databases are specifically built to leverage the unique features and capabilities of cloud environments, such as scalability, flexibility, resilience, and the ability to handle distributed data efficiently. These databases are architected to take full advantage of cloud resources, allowing organizations to dynamically allocate resources based on demand, ensure high availability, and execute operations across multiple cloud environments seamlessly.

Unlike traditional databases that may be optimized for on-premises installations, cloud-native databases support various cloud functionalities, like autoscaling, automatic backups, and robust security measures tailored to the cloud infrastructure. This architecture is especially beneficial in modern application development, where applications are often deployed in microservices and need to operate in a highly dynamic environment.

Other options do not capture the essence of what a cloud-native database aims to achieve. For instance, facilitating traditional SQL queries efficiently does not address the cloud-optimized approach, while retrofitting legacy systems into the cloud does not embody the design philosophy of creating databases tailored for cloud-native environments. Similarly, managing databases across different locations manually is contrary to the automation and operational efficiency that cloud-native databases strive to provide, as they often incorporate features that allow for automated management and orchestration