What is Oracle Premier Support?
- Foundational support for Oracle products.
- Includes software updates, bug fixes, and enhancements.
- Provides security patches to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Offers 24/7 technical assistance for issue resolution.
- Ensures compatibility with hardware and third-party systems.
- Facilitates seamless upgrades to newer Oracle versions.
What is Oracle Premier Support?
Oracle Premier Support is Oracle Corporation’s foundational support service, designed to help organizations maximize the performance, reliability, and security of their Oracle products. This comprehensive offering is available for the first five years based on the product’s general availability.
It includes various services to ensure businesses can operate and maintain their Oracle solutions effectively. It plays a critical role in safeguarding Oracle systems against vulnerabilities, improving functionality, and providing expert assistance for troubleshooting and optimization.
Oracle Premier Support provides full access to critical updates, technical assistance, and tools to optimize system performance.
As a key component of Oracle’s Lifetime Support Policy, it ensures that businesses have the necessary resources to meet operational demands, maintain compliance with evolving standards, and prepare for seamless transitions to newer product versions.
This service is especially valuable for organizations seeking a proactive and comprehensive approach to database and application support.
Key Features of Oracle Premier Support
1. Software Updates and Enhancements
- Regular Updates: Includes bug fixes, performance improvements, and compatibility adjustments to address evolving business needs.
- New Features: This feature provides access to feature enhancements during support, helping organizations stay competitive and leverage the latest Oracle innovations.
- Compatibility Improvements: Ensures that Oracle products work seamlessly with the latest hardware and software technologies.
2. Security Patches
- Proactive Security: Regular updates to protect systems from vulnerabilities, mitigating cyberattacks and data breaches risks.
- Compliance Readiness: Helps meet regulatory requirements by maintaining secure and compliant environments for critical applications.
- Continuous Monitoring: Ensures systems are protected against emerging threats with ongoing security assessments.
3. Technical Assistance
- 24/7 Support: Around-the-clock access to Oracle’s expert technical support team for critical and non-critical issues.
- Proactive Issue Resolution: Tools and resources to promptly prevent and promptly address potential problems, minimizing downtime.
- Knowledge Base Access: Offers extensive documentation, FAQs, and best practices to empower IT teams with self-service resources.
4. Certification and Compatibility
- Interoperability Updates: Ensures seamless integration with evolving technologies, third-party systems, and Oracle Cloud solutions.
- Hardware and Software Certifications: Verifies compatibility with supported platforms, ensuring optimal performance across IT environments.
- Version Alignment: Helps businesses align their Oracle software versions with other enterprise applications for streamlined operations.
5. Upgrade Support
- Smooth Transitions: Guidance and tools to facilitate upgrades to newer versions of Oracle products with minimal disruption.
- Comprehensive Planning: Resources to assist in strategic planning for version upgrades, including risk assessments and deployment strategies.
- Migration Assistance: Provides tools and recommendations to ensure data integrity and system continuity during migrations.
How Oracle Premier Support Differs from Extended Support
Oracle Premier Support and Extended Support serve distinct purposes within Oracle’s Lifetime Support Policy, addressing different product lifecycle phases.
Below are the key differences:
1. Availability
- Premier Support: Available during the first five years of a product’s lifecycle, providing comprehensive coverage for new and existing features.
- Extended Support: Offered for an additional three years after Premier Support ends, primarily maintaining operational stability.
2. Features and Coverage
- Premier Support includes full access to software updates, security patches, and feature enhancements, as well as support for functionality and innovation.
- Extended Support focuses on critical updates, such as security patches and bug fixes, without introducing new features or major enhancements.
3. Cost
- Premier Support: Included as part of the standard licensing agreement, ensuring no additional fees during the support period.
- Extended Support: Requires additional fees beyond the standard support cost, reflecting the specialized nature of post-premier support.
4. Focus
- Premier Support: Centers on active development, continuous improvements, and full lifecycle support for products.
- Extended Support: Primarily maintains security and operational stability, helping organizations delay upgrades or transitions.
5. Lifecycle Goals
- Premier Support: Supports active development, innovation, and modernization within the product’s primary lifecycle.
- Extended Support is a transitional service for organizations that require additional time to plan and execute upgrades to newer Oracle solutions.
Benefits of Oracle Premier Support
1. Operational Reliability
It provides essential updates and proactive issue resolution to ensure consistent and reliable system performance, reduce unplanned downtime, and improve operational efficiency.
2. Enhanced Security
Regular security patches safeguard systems against emerging threats, ensuring data integrity and compliance with stringent legal and regulatory standards.
3. Cost Efficiency
Includes updates and support without additional fees, enabling businesses to maximize the value of their Oracle investments during the product’s primary lifecycle. Premier Support offers a predictable cost structure, making budget planning straightforward.
4. Seamless Upgrades
Facilitates smooth transitions to newer product versions, reducing downtime, operational risks, and costs associated with poorly planned migrations.
5. Strategic Planning Support
Empower organizations to plan for future growth and technology adoption with resources, tools, and expert guidance tailored to their unique needs.
Frequently Asked Questions: Oracle Premier Support
What is Oracle Premier Support? It is a foundational service that provides updates, security patches, and technical assistance for Oracle products during their first five years of lifecycle.
How long does Oracle Premier Support last? Premier Support lasts five years from the general availability of a product, providing comprehensive coverage during its primary lifecycle phase.
What is included in Oracle Premier Support? It includes software updates, security patches, technical assistance, compatibility certifications, and tools for smooth upgrades to newer versions.
What industries benefit most from Oracle Premier Support? Finance, healthcare, retail, telecommunications, and government rely on Premier Support to maintain secure and reliable systems.
How does Oracle Premier Support ensure security? It delivers regular security patches and updates to protect systems from vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Does Premier Support include new features? Yes, Premier Support provides access to feature enhancements and compatibility updates, ensuring Oracle products remain current.
What technical assistance is provided under Premier Support? Premier Support includes 24/7 access to Oracle’s expert technical team for resolving issues and optimizing system performance.
How does Premier Support help with upgrades? It offers tools, resources, and guidance to ensure smooth transitions to newer Oracle product versions and minimize risks and downtime.
What happens after Premier Support ends? Organizations can transition to Extended Support for critical updates or Sustaining Support for technical assistance without updates.
How does Premier Support differ from Extended Support? Premier Support includes updates, security patches, and feature enhancements, while Extended Support focuses on maintaining security and compliance without adding new features.
Is Premier Support included in Oracle licensing? Yes, Premier Support is included in the standard Oracle licensing agreement during the first five years of a product’s lifecycle.
How does Premier Support assist with compliance? It provides regular updates and patches to ensure systems meet evolving legal and regulatory standards.
What are the cost implications of Premier Support? Premier Support is included in the licensing cost, making it a cost-effective way to maintain and optimize Oracle products during their primary lifecycle.
Can Premier Support be extended beyond five years? No, after five years, organizations must transition to Extended Support or Sustaining Support for continued assistance.
Why is Oracle Premier Support critical for businesses? It ensures operational reliability, security, and compatibility, enabling businesses to effectively maintain optimal performance and plan for future growth.
