Managed data services help organizations keep databases, pipelines, cloud data platforms, warehouses, and analytics environments reliable after the initial implementation. The category now spans traditional DBA support, DataOps, cloud platform management, governance, migration, observability, and continuous optimization. Buyers should look for a delivery model that matches the operational burden they want to hand off, along with proven expertise in the databases, cloud platforms, and analytics tools already in use. Strong providers also make ownership clear across monitoring, incident response, security, performance, data quality, and ongoing platform improvement.
1. Itexus
Itexus develops data-intensive software for financial services and other regulated or information-heavy environments. Its published portfolio includes an AI-powered data management and analytics platform for a large financial holding, financial data analytics products, health data systems, and applications that use PostgreSQL, Kafka, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Python, Node.js, and DevOps practices.
The company is a practical fit when managed data work is inseparable from the product itself. Itexus can build or modernize the application layer around a data platform, extend teams with dedicated engineers, and keep improving production software after launch. That combination is useful for organizations that need data pipelines, analytics, backend services, integrations, and cloud operations to evolve together rather than as separate vendor engagements.
Key Facts
- Best for: Fintech and enterprise teams building or modernizing data-heavy software
- Core services: Managed data, custom software development, data and analytics platforms, AI/ML, cloud engineering, DevOps, dedicated teams
- Technologies: PostgreSQL, Kafka, Python, Node.js, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud
- Offices: Dover, Delaware, USA and Warsaw, Poland
- Headquarters: Dover, DE, USA
- Founded: 2013
- Team size: 150+ engineers
Contact Information
- Website: itexus.com
- Email: moc.suxeti@ofni
- Address: 8, The Green, STE road, Dover, DE 19901, United States
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/itexus
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/itexus
- Twitter: x.com/ItexusSoft
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/itexus.soft
2. phData
phData runs managed operations for modern cloud data platforms under its Elastic Operations model. The service covers change and incident support, platform governance and security, cost management, continuous monitoring and 24/7 support, with usage-based pricing rather than a fixed headcount. Separate tracks handle platform operations for Snowflake and AWS, data pipeline automation and governance, BI and analytics environments, and the operation of GenAI and ML applications.
Snowflake is the main focus, supported by the company's own phData Toolkit for configuration, onboarding and reporting, and the team works with dbt, Fivetran and Sigma. phData suits organizations that already run Snowflake and want a specialist team to keep it governed and cost-efficient.
Key Facts
- Best for: Companies running Snowflake or AWS data platforms
- Core services: Platform operations, data operations, analytics operations, AI operations, FinOps
- Specialization: Usage-based managed operations for Snowflake-centered data stacks
- Headquarters: Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Founded: 2014
Contact Information
- Website: phdata.io
3. Fortified Data
Fortified Data is a US-based database specialist that provides managed database services for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL and MySQL. For a monthly fee it covers 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, backups and reporting. An On-Call DBA option guarantees a 15-minute emergency response from a senior DBA and includes monthly on-demand hours, and a dedicated emergency line is available for outages.
Alongside operations, the company handles migrations and upgrades, performance tuning, high availability and disaster recovery, and health, cloud-readiness and security assessments. Clients named in its reviews include Loews Hotels & Co, PerfectServe, Shaklee and Global Payments. It fits healthcare, financial services and insurance teams that need senior DBA coverage without hiring a full in-house team.
Key Facts
- Best for: Mid-size companies needing 24/7 senior DBA coverage
- Core services: Managed databases, on-call DBA, migrations, performance tuning, HA/DR
- Specialization: SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL and MySQL administration
- Headquarters: Charlotte, NC, USA
- Founded: 2002
- Team size: 11–50 employees
Contact Information
- Website: fortifieddata.com
- Phone: (844) 282-3282
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fortified-data-services/
4. XTIVIA
XTIVIA offers managed data support through its Virtual-DBA service, which provides 24x7 database support for enterprise environments.
Its analytics team works with Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Teradata and Hyperion, across AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and OpenShift. Published results include an HP partner portal project with a 40% cut in integration costs and twice-faster deployments for Bosch Global Logistics. XTIVIA suits enterprises that want ongoing DBA coverage combined with data engineering and governance from one provider.
Key Facts
- Best for: Enterprises combining remote DBA support with data engineering
- Core services: Virtual-DBA, data engineering, data governance, MDM, analytics
- Specialization: 24x7 remote database administration for enterprise environments
- Headquarters: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
- Founded: 1992
- Team size: 201–500 employees
Contact Information
- Website: xtivia.com
- Phone: 888-685-3101, ext. 2
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/xtivia
5. Pythian
Pythian focuses directly on managed databases, data platforms, analytics operations, cloud, and AI. Its database managed services provide 24/7/365 administration, monitoring, performance tuning, maintenance, security work, and high-availability support across more than 45 database, cloud, warehouse, and data technologies. The company also runs managed analytics environments, including ETL and ELT pipelines, cloud warehouses, and business intelligence infrastructure.
This breadth makes Pythian a strong fit for enterprises that want to transfer day-to-day operational responsibility without locking managed services to a single database or cloud. It can support environments that combine legacy databases, cloud-native services, warehouses such as BigQuery or Snowflake, and modern DataOps practices, while also handling migrations and performance optimization.
Key Facts
- Best for: Enterprises outsourcing ongoing database and analytics operations
- Core services: Database managed services, data analytics managed services, DataOps, migrations, performance tuning
- Service area: 24/7/365 operational support
- Technology scope: More than 45 database, cloud, warehouse, and data platforms
- Headquarters: Ottawa, Canada
- Founded: 1997
- Team size: 201–500 employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.pythian.com
- Phone: +1 (613) 565-8696
- Email: moc.naihtyp@ofni
- Address: 319 McRae Ave., Suite #600, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 0B9
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/pythian
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pythian1
- Twitter: x.com/Pythian
6. OSKI Solutions
OSKI Solutions combines data engineering with ongoing software and infrastructure operations. Its Data & Analytics work covers ETL and ELT pipelines, warehouses, migrations, governance, business intelligence, and cloud analytics platforms, including environments built around services such as Redshift, BigQuery, and Snowflake. The managed IT practice extends that work into production with monitoring, patching, backups, incident response, and database and integration support.
The model is useful for organizations that want the same engineering team to understand the application, data layer, integrations, and cloud environment. OSKI Solutions can take over systems it did not originally build, document and stabilize them, then operate and improve the production stack under an ongoing managed-services engagement.
Key Facts
- Best for: Teams that want data engineering and production operations under one engagement
- Core services: Data engineering, ETL/ELT, cloud analytics, database support, managed IT services
- Operational scope: Monitoring, incident response, patching, backups, integrations, continuous improvement
- Cloud focus: AWS and Azure operations, plus cloud analytics platforms
- Headquarters: Tallinn, Estonia
- Team size: 51–200 employees
Contact Information
- Website: oski.site
- Email: etis.ikso@tcatnoc
- Address: Kaupmehe tn 7-120, Tallinn, 10114, Estonia
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/oski-solutions
7. Rackspace Technology
Rackspace Technology provides managed database services across relational, NoSQL, and cloud-native database environments. Its supported technologies include Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Elasticsearch, Redis, AWS-native databases, Azure database services, and Google Cloud SQL. Service options include proactive around-the-clock database management, backups, security, health monitoring, migrations, and advanced performance tuning.
The provider is particularly relevant to organizations with databases spread across several hosting models. Rackspace supports AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Rackspace cloud environments, and customer data centers, so database operations can be managed across hybrid and multicloud estates without forcing a single hosting destination.
Key Facts
- Best for: Hybrid and multicloud database estates
- Core services: Managed database operations, DBA support, migration, tuning, backup, security
- Database coverage: Relational, NoSQL, and cloud-native database services
- Technologies: AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, private cloud, and customer data centers
- Headquarters: San Antonio, TX, USA
- Team size: 1,001–5,000 employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.rackspace.com
- Phone: 1-800-961-4454
- Email: moc.ecapskcar@plehrentrapxar
- Address: Global Headquarters, 19122 US Highway 281N Ste 128, San Antonio, TX 78258-7667 United States
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/rackspace-technology
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/rackspacetechnology
- Twitter: x.com/Rackspace
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/rackspace_technology
8. Datavail
Datavail is built around ongoing database and data-platform support. Its database support model provides 24/7/365 proactive and reactive administration, with work spanning patching, backups, configuration, installation, health checks, tuning, failover, replication, disaster recovery, and incident response. The company also manages cloud environments and supports business intelligence, analytics, and application workloads.
Datavail fits organizations that need a mature remote DBA function with enough breadth to cover mixed estates. Its cloud managed services span platforms and technologies including AWS, Azure, Oracle, MongoDB, SQL Server, Db2, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Cassandra, Hadoop, and MariaDB, which is useful for enterprises carrying both legacy and modern data systems.
Key Facts
- Best for: Organizations seeking 24/7 remote DBA and cloud data operations
- Core services: Database support, monitoring, lifecycle management, cloud managed services, BI and analytics
- Operational coverage: 24/7/365
- Headquarters: Broomfield, CO, USA
- Founded: 2007
- Team size: 501–1,000 employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.datavail.com
- Phone: 877-634-9222
- Address: 375 Northridge Road, Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia, 30350
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/datavail
- Twitter: x.com/datavail
9. DataStrike
DataStrike provides managed database support with US-based DBA teams and coverage across major relational and cloud database platforms. Its services include full or fractional DBA support, monitoring, migrations, backup and recovery, upgrades, high availability, performance work, and security. Supported database environments include SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and cloud database services.
The company also extends beyond traditional DBA work into data and analytics services, including business intelligence and platforms such as Databricks and Snowflake. That combination suits organizations that want operational database ownership today while also modernizing reporting, analytics, or cloud data architecture over time.
Key Facts
- Best for: US organizations needing managed DBA coverage plus analytics modernization
- Core services: Managed database support, DBA services, migration, performance, BI and analytics
- Database focus: SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and cloud databases
- Headquarters: Warrendale, Pennsylvania, USA
- Team size: 201–500 employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.datastrike.com
- Phone: 888-753-6737
- Address: 2000 Ericsson Drive, Suite 225, Warrendale, PA 15086
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/datastrike
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mydatastrike
- Twitter: x.com/DataStrikeInc
10. N-iX
N-iX offers data management services across governance, architecture, integration, quality, migration, storage, security, master data, metadata, and platform optimization. The practice is designed around the full lifecycle of enterprise data rather than one database product, so engagements can connect data engineering, cloud modernization, analytics, and governance work.
N-iX also offers managed services around modern data platforms, including day-to-day operations, optimization, and troubleshooting for Databricks environments. This mix is well suited to enterprises that are modernizing a fragmented data estate and need both project delivery and continued operational ownership after the target platform goes live.
Key Facts
- Best for: Enterprise data-estate modernization and managed modern data platforms
- Core services: Data management, architecture, integration, migration, governance, data quality, cloud data
- Operational capabilities: Monitoring, optimization, troubleshooting, managed platform services
- Global presence: Offices and delivery operations across multiple regions
- Headquarters: Valletta, Malta
- Founded: 2002
- Team size: 1,001–5,000 employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.n-ix.com
- Phone: +17273415669
- Email: moc.xi-n@tcatnoc
- Address: 4330 W Broward Boulevard – Space P/Q, Plantation, FL 33317
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/n-ix
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/N.iX.Company
- Twitter: x.com/N_iX_Global
11. A-listware
A-listware brings managed IT, data analytics, infrastructure services, and software engineering into one delivery model. Its service portfolio covers managed cloud and on-premises infrastructure and applications, while its data work includes analytics, big data, machine learning, and database administration. The company also publishes database administration outsourcing capabilities across SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and Cassandra.
This makes A-listware relevant when managed data is part of a wider technology outsourcing program. A business can combine database administration and analytics expertise with application support, cloud operations, DevOps, or a dedicated engineering team, reducing the number of separate providers involved in keeping a data-dependent system running.
Key Facts
- Best for: Businesses combining data operations with broader IT outsourcing
- Core services: Managed IT, data analytics, infrastructure services, database administration, IT support
- Database coverage: SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra
- Engagement model: Managed services, dedicated teams, time and material, KPI-driven programs
- Headquarters: London, UK
Contact Information
- Website: a-listware.com
- Phone: +44 (0)142 439 01 40
- Email: moc.erawtsil-a@ofni
- Address: St. Leonards-On-Sea, TN37 7TA, UK
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/a-listware
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/alistware
12. ELEKS
ELEKS covers the data lifecycle through data engineering, DataOps, migration and cloud adoption, governance and quality, data warehousing and lakes, big data, business intelligence, and performance optimization. Its delivery process includes architecture and pipeline implementation followed by monitoring and support, giving organizations a path from modernization work into continued platform operation.
The company also provides L2 and L3 technical support for production systems. Database and integration-point support are explicitly part of that model, alongside monitoring and after-hours coverage. This makes ELEKS a practical choice for enterprises that need a data platform built or modernized first, then supported as part of a broader mission-critical application environment.
Key Facts
- Best for: Enterprises combining data engineering, modernization, and production support
- Core services: Data engineering, DataOps, data migration, governance, warehouses and lakes, BI
- Support: Applications, databases, integration points, monitoring, L2 and L3 maintenance
- Industry reach: Enterprise work across finance, healthcare, logistics, energy, government, and other sectors
- Headquarters: Tallinn, Estonia
- Founded: 1991
- Team size: 1,001–5,000 employees
Contact Information
- Website: eleks.com
- Phone: +1-708-967-4803
- Email: moc.skele@tcatnoc
- Address: 625 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60661
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/eleks
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ELEKS.Software
- Twitter: x.com/ELEKSSoftware
13. Gilzor
Gilzor develops and supports web and mobile products with backend and data layers built for production use. Its published technology stack includes MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Amazon S3, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and modern Node.js and Python frameworks. The company also provides technical troubleshooting and ongoing development support for products that are already live.
For managed data needs, Gilzor is most relevant when database design and operations are closely tied to a continuously evolving software product. The same team can work across backend architecture, integrations, storage, cloud infrastructure, performance problems, bug fixing, and feature delivery, which helps reduce handoffs between a product engineering vendor and a separate data-support provider.
Key Facts
- Best for: Startups, SMBs, and product companies managing data inside active software products
- Core services: Web and mobile development, backend engineering, technical troubleshooting, ongoing support
- Data technologies: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Amazon S3
- Cloud and platform stack: AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, infrastructure services
- Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland
Contact Information
- Website: www.gilzor.com
- Email: moc.rozlig@stcatnoc
- Address: Poland, Warsaw, Office 58, street Adama Mickiewicza 37, 01-625
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/gilzor-softwaredevelopment
14. Accenture
Accenture combines data modernization with large-scale managed services. Its managed-services portfolio includes Managed Data, AI and Automation, while its data practice covers cloud migration, modern data platforms, architecture, governance, reusable data products, analytics, and AI readiness. The company also operates cloud and infrastructure environments with ongoing optimization and service-level accountability.
This model suits large enterprises that need managed data to connect with broader transformation programs rather than remain a standalone DBA function. Accenture can address the data foundation, cloud environment, applications, automation, governance, and operating model together, which is useful when ownership crosses business units, regions, and multiple technology platforms.
Key Facts
- Best for: Large enterprises running broad data, cloud, AI, and operating-model transformations
- Core services: Managed Data, AI and Automation, data modernization, cloud data, governance, managed cloud
- Data focus: Modern platforms, reusable data products, architecture, governance, analytics and AI readiness
- Delivery scope: Strategy, implementation, modernization, and ongoing managed services
- Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
- Founded: 1989
- Team size: 10,001+ employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.accenture.com
- Phone: +352264231
- Address: 7 Rue Lou Hemmer, Niederanven, Luxembourg, 1748
15. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services provides enterprise data, integration, analytics, and cloud services at global scale. Its AWS data offerings cover database transformation, migration, modernization, archival, data warehouses, data lakes, real-time analytics, and data governance. TCS also supports cloud-native services such as Amazon RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, Redshift, Glue, Kinesis, Athena, and QuickSight.
Managed services are part of the delivery model, including ongoing support for data warehouses and broader enterprise data management. TCS is well suited to complex organizations that need data modernization to connect with application management, cloud transformation, governance, business intelligence, and long-running operational programs across a large technology estate.
Key Facts
- Best for: Global enterprises with complex, multi-system data transformation programs
- Core services: Data integration and analytics, database transformation, migration, data lakes, governance, managed services
- Cloud focus: AWS data and analytics services, including Amazon Redshift and relational database platforms
- Delivery scope: Consulting, implementation, modernization, and managed operations
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Founded: 1968
- Team size: 10,001+ employees
Contact Information
- Website: www.tcs.com
- Phone: +91-22-6778 9999
- Email: moc.sct@snoitaler.rotsevni
- Address: TCS House, Raveline Street, 21 DS Marg, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TataConsultancyServices
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/tata-consultancy-services
- Twitter: x.com/TCS
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tcsglobal
Comparison Table
| Company | Best for | Headquarters | Founded | Team size |
| Itexus | Fintech and enterprise teams building or modernizing data-heavy software | Dover, DE, USA | 2013 | 150+ engineers |
| phData | Companies running Snowflake or AWS data platforms | Minneapolis, MN, USA | 2014 | — |
| Fortified Data | Mid-size companies needing 24/7 senior DBA coverage | Charlotte, NC, USA | 2002 | 11–50 employees |
| XTIVIA | Enterprises combining remote DBA support with data engineering | Colorado Springs, CO, USA | 1992 | 201–500 employees |
| Pythian | Enterprises outsourcing ongoing database and analytics operations | Ottawa, Canada | 1997 | 201–500 employees |
| OSKI Solutions | Teams that want data engineering and production operations under one engagement | Tallinn, Estonia | — | 51–200 employees |
| Rackspace Technology | Hybrid and multicloud database estates | San Antonio, TX, USA | — | 1,001–5,000 employees |
| Datavail | Organizations seeking 24/7 remote DBA and cloud data operations | Broomfield, CO, USA | 2007 | 501–1,000 employees |
| DataStrike | US organizations needing managed DBA coverage plus analytics modernization | Warrendale, Pennsylvania, USA | — | 201–500 employees |
| N-iX | Enterprise data-estate modernization and managed modern data platforms | Valletta, Malta | 2002 | 1,001–5,000 employees |
| A-listware | Businesses combining data operations with broader IT outsourcing | London, UK | — | — |
| ELEKS | Enterprises combining data engineering, modernization, and production support | Tallinn, Estonia | 1991 | 1,001–5,000 employees |
| Gilzor | Startups, SMBs, and product companies managing data inside active software products | Warsaw, Poland | — | — |
| Accenture | Large enterprises running broad data, cloud, AI, and operating-model transformations | Dublin, Ireland | 1989 | 10,001+ employees |
| Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) | Global enterprises with complex, multi-system data transformation programs | Mumbai, India | 1968 | 10,001+ employees |
How to Choose a Managed Data Services Provider
A managed data services provider keeps your databases, pipelines, and analytics platforms running after they go live. The right choice depends on which systems you run, how critical fresh and accurate data is to the business, and which parts of the work you want to hand off versus keep close to your own team.
Expertise in your data stack. List the engines and platforms you run, such as PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, MongoDB, Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, or Kafka, and ask for engineers with production experience in each. A strong Oracle DBA team may know little about streaming pipelines. Ask for references from clients with a similar stack and data volume.
Defined recovery objectives. Agree on recovery point and recovery time objectives for each critical system, then ask how the provider tests them. Request evidence of regular restore drills, not just backup job reports. Many teams discover their backups are incomplete only during an incident, so a provider that tests restores routinely is worth more than one that only schedules backups.
Pipeline and data quality monitoring. Database uptime is not enough if a nightly pipeline silently fails or loads bad records. Ask how the provider monitors freshness, row counts, schema changes, and failed jobs, and how quickly they alert you. Check whether they fix broken pipelines themselves or simply notify your team that something went wrong.
Performance and cost tuning. Ask how often they review slow queries, indexing, storage growth, and warehouse compute usage. On consumption-priced platforms like Snowflake or BigQuery, poor queries can raise bills quickly. Request an example of a tuning report and the changes it led to. Providers should treat cost and performance as ongoing work, not a one-time review.
Security, access, and compliance. Data platforms often hold personal and financial information. Ask how the provider handles privileged access, encryption, audit logging, data masking in non-production environments, and requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Check the provider's own certifications and how quickly they remove access when their staff change roles.
Change management and documentation. Schema changes, upgrades, and migrations should follow a review process with rollback plans. Ask how changes are tested, scheduled, and communicated, and whether runbooks and architecture documentation are kept up to date and owned by you. Good documentation also protects you if you later switch providers or bring the work in-house.
Conclusion
Managed data services are moving beyond basic database administration toward continuous ownership of the full data environment. Reliable operations now depend on observability, data quality, security, cost control, cloud optimization, governance, and fast incident response working together. The right provider should match the actual operating model, whether that means a specialist DBA team, a DataOps partner, a cloud managed-services firm, or an engineering team that owns the data layer inside a production product. Buyers should also define responsibility boundaries early, especially for backups, recovery, performance, pipeline failures, schema changes, access controls, and platform costs. As analytics and AI become more dependent on trustworthy production data, managed data relationships will increasingly be judged by operational reliability and continuous improvement rather than by implementation alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are managed data services?
Managed data services are ongoing operations for your data systems, delivered by an outside team. They usually cover database administration, backups and recovery, monitoring, performance tuning, pipeline maintenance, security, and upgrades. Some providers also manage cloud data platforms, governance, and analytics environments, or handle migrations as part of the engagement.
How much do managed data services cost?
Providers typically charge a monthly retainer based on the number of database instances, data platforms, and pipelines, plus the required support hours and response times. 24/7 coverage, multiple engines, regulated data, and large data volumes all raise the price. Migrations and major redesigns are usually quoted separately as projects.
Should we hire a DBA or use a managed data provider?
A full-time DBA makes sense when you run one main database platform with constant change. A managed provider is usually better when you need 24/7 coverage, several technologies, or skills that one person cannot cover. Many companies combine an internal data lead with an external team for routine operations and after-hours support.
Can a managed data provider handle cloud data platforms like Snowflake or Databricks?
Many can, but depth varies, so ask for certified engineers and client references on the specific platform. Work on these platforms often focuses on cost control, access management, pipeline reliability, and performance tuning rather than classic database administration. Confirm that the provider understands consumption pricing and how to keep compute spend in check.
What should we prepare before engaging a managed data provider?
Prepare an inventory of databases, warehouses, and pipelines, with versions, sizes, and owners. Document current backup practices, recovery targets, known performance problems, and compliance requirements. A list of who uses which data and how fresh it must be helps the provider set realistic service levels and priorities from the start.