Your application is only as good as the data behind it. At 5labs, we design, build, migrate, and optimise databases that perform reliably under pressure. Whether you are running PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or Redis, we make sure your data layer is fast, secure, and built to scale. Based in Edinburgh, we support businesses across the UK with hands-on database expertise.
A poorly designed or neglected database is one of the most common reasons applications slow down, crash, or fail to scale. At 5labs, we treat database management as a core engineering discipline. We design schemas that model your data correctly, write queries that execute efficiently, and set up infrastructure that handles growth without surprises.
Our team works with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL), document stores (MongoDB), key-value caches (Redis), and cloud-managed services (Amazon RDS, DynamoDB, Google Cloud SQL). We handle everything from greenfield database design for new applications to performance audits and migrations for existing systems that have outgrown their current setup.
Database work rarely happens in isolation. Our web development team builds the applications that sit on top of your data. Our custom software team handles complex data processing pipelines. For cloud-hosted database infrastructure, see our SaaS development services. Need AI models trained on your data? Explore our AI development services.
Reliable, fast, and well-structured databases that grow with your business
We design normalised relational schemas and flexible document structures that model your domain accurately. Good design from the start prevents costly refactoring later. We document every table, relationship, and index so your team always knows the data landscape.
Migrating between database engines, cloud providers, or schema versions without losing data or causing downtime. We plan migrations carefully, run parallel systems during transition, and validate every record before cutting over.
Slow queries cost time and money. We analyse execution plans, add targeted indexes, rewrite inefficient queries, and restructure data access patterns. It is common for us to reduce query times from seconds to milliseconds.
Automated backup strategies with point-in-time recovery, cross-region replication, and tested restore procedures. We set up backups that you can actually rely on when something goes wrong, not just ones that exist on paper.
Read replicas, connection pooling, partitioning, sharding, and caching layers using Redis or Memcached. We scale databases to handle millions of rows and thousands of concurrent connections without degradation.
Setup and management of cloud database services including Amazon RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, Google Cloud SQL, and Azure Database. We handle provisioning, security groups, parameter tuning, and cost optimisation.
Structured, careful, and always backed up
We review your current database setup: schema design, query performance, index usage, backup policies, and infrastructure. You receive a detailed report with prioritised recommendations and quick wins.
For new projects, we design the data model from scratch based on your application requirements. For existing systems, we refine and normalise the schema. Entity-relationship diagrams and documentation are provided.
We build or modify the database, write migration scripts, set up indexes, configure replication, and establish connection pooling. Every change is version-controlled and can be rolled back if needed.
We profile slow queries, analyse execution plans, and tune database configuration parameters. Caching strategies are implemented where appropriate. Load testing confirms the database handles expected traffic.
Automated backups are configured with tested restore procedures. Access controls, encryption at rest, and audit logging are put in place. We make sure your data is both safe and compliant.
We set up monitoring for query performance, storage usage, connection counts, and replication lag. Alerts notify your team before problems escalate. Ongoing support keeps your databases healthy as your application evolves.
Industry-standard database engines and management tools
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server. Structured data with ACID compliance, complex joins, and strong consistency for transactional applications and reporting systems.
MongoDB, Redis, DynamoDB, Elasticsearch. Flexible schemas for document storage, high-speed caching, key-value lookups, and full-text search at scale.
Amazon RDS, Aurora, DynamoDB, Google Cloud SQL, Azure Database, PlanetScale, Supabase. Managed database infrastructure with automatic failover, scaling, and maintenance handled by the cloud provider.
Pair database expertise with these complementary services
Common questions about our database services
Costs depend on the scope of work. A database audit and optimisation project might start from £2,000 to £8,000. Full database design and implementation for new applications typically ranges from £5,000 to £25,000. Complex migrations and ongoing managed database services are quoted based on your specific infrastructure and requirements.
It depends on your data and access patterns. SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) are ideal for structured data with relationships, transactions, and complex queries. NoSQL databases (MongoDB, DynamoDB) suit unstructured or semi-structured data, high write volumes, and flexible schemas. Many modern applications use both. We help you choose the right tool for each part of your system.
Yes. We regularly migrate databases between engines (for example, MySQL to PostgreSQL), between hosting providers (on-premises to AWS), and between schema versions. We use blue-green migration strategies with parallel running and validation to ensure zero data loss and minimal downtime.
Almost certainly. Slow databases are usually caused by missing indexes, poorly written queries, inadequate hardware, or a schema that does not match the application's access patterns. We run a thorough performance audit, identify the bottlenecks, and implement fixes. Clients regularly see 10x or greater improvements in query response times.
We set up automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery capability. Backups are stored in a separate location (or region) from the primary database. We test restore procedures regularly to confirm they actually work. For critical systems, we also configure real-time replication to a standby server for instant failover.
Yes. We use multiple strategies depending on your situation: vertical scaling (bigger hardware), read replicas to offload read queries, connection pooling with PgBouncer or ProxySQL, table partitioning for large datasets, and horizontal sharding for distributed workloads. We also add caching layers with Redis to reduce database load.
Yes. We set up monitoring dashboards that track query performance, storage usage, connection counts, replication lag, and error rates. Automated alerts notify your team (or ours) when metrics exceed thresholds. This proactive approach catches issues before they affect your users.
Yes. We implement encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, audit logging, and network security rules. For regulated industries, we help with GDPR compliance, data retention policies, and anonymisation. We follow the principle of least privilege for all database access.
Free Consultation | Database Experts | Edinburgh-Based Team
⭐ Trusted by Businesses Across Edinburgh & the UK
