(Webhosting.info) The new partner program allows hosting companies and managed hosting providers to address a number of infrastructure challenges.

MySQL AB, a developer of open source database, today launched the MySQL authorized hosting Partner Program, a new partner offering, specifically designed for top-tier hosting companies and managed hosting providers. The company states that MySQL authorized hosting partners get access to MySQL enterprise - it’s premium, commercial-grade software and services - to deliver the high database availability and performance required by the growing number of online, on-demand, Web-hosted applications.

The company explained that hosting companies offer customers, such as Software-as-a-Service providers and mobility service providers, a cost-effective alternative for maintaining their own IT infrastructures. However, hosting providers must often address a number of infrastructure challenges, including delivering extremely high database availability and scalability to effectively meet the commitments outlined in customer service contracts, or service level agreements.

“Managed hosting providers of any size can now offer enterprise-grade hosting solutions with the database used by the world’s leading Web-based companies,” said Zack Urlocker, MySQL AB’s executive vice president of products. “With MySQL Enterprise’s proven software and premium support, hosting partners can deliver the high-performance service needed to meet demanding customer contracts — while reducing their customers’ database total cost of ownership by up to 90 percent.”

“Software-as-a-Service applications are both increasingly popular and increasingly complex,” said Daniel Golding, vice president and research director at Tier 1 Research, an industry analyst firm that specializes in the hosting and Software-as-a-Service markets. “A greater number of Internet application developers are turning to managed hosting providers to help establish, scale, and maintain their applications. Those application developers need assurance that their managed hosting providers have the expertise and experience in administering complex database environments, which has made tight partnerships between database vendors and managed hosting providers absolutely necessary.”