Let's Talk Openly About AWS: Questions, Tips & Experiences

While AWS's MySQL Extended Support offers a valuable safety net for businesses running outdated databases, the pricing model can feel a bit unfair, especially for smaller companies. Charging 25% to 35% of the existing RDS license costs every month can quickly add up, particularly for older versions where updates are less frequent. For many, it feels like a penalty for not upgrading fast enough, even though upgrading a mission-critical database often requires significant time, resources, and planning.

Moreover, AWS's pricing doesn’t always reflect the level of service provided. Businesses are essentially paying a premium for a minimal set of security patches and bug fixes, which might not justify the steep monthly fees. It can leave users feeling trapped, especially when they don’t have the bandwidth to perform a full migration to a newer version. While AWS offers great services overall, the extended support model seems to benefit the provider more than the user.

I have a client who is paying between $1,000 to $1,500 monthly for AWS MySQL Extended Support, and it's a clear example of how the costs can spiral. For a business relying heavily on older database versions, these fees add a significant burden. Despite the cost, the service provided doesn't always seem to match the high price tag, especially when considering that most of the updates are minimal patches. This leaves businesses like my client stuck between paying hefty fees or risking their data by running unsupported versions.

To mitigate the high costs of AWS MySQL Extended Support, we are moving my client into a standalone instance on EC2 as a temporary solution. This approach gives us more control over the database environment while significantly reducing monthly expenses. By running MySQL independently on EC2, we avoid the steep support fees and can manage the necessary patches ourselves. Although it's a more hands-on approach, it provides flexibility and cost savings, making it a practical alternative for the time being.

f anyone else is facing similar challenges with AWS MySQL Extended Support or looking for cost-effective alternatives, we're here to help. Whether it’s moving to a standalone EC2 instance or exploring other options, we can provide tailored solutions to meet your needs and help you manage your database infrastructure more efficiently. Don't hesitate to reach out for support!