Oracle Database 23ai – Release Update 23.9: What SAM Teams Need to Know
📌 TLDR
Oracle Database 23ai – Release Update 23.9 introduces major upgrades in developer productivity, security, AI-powered indexing, and operational efficiency—like compile-time JavaScript checks, native UUID support, MFA, and smarter vector indexing. While these features boost capability, they also complicate license tracking and compliance. That’s where Licenseware’s Oracle Database Manager (ODBM) app comes in, offering deep Oracle usage insights, automated license mapping, and audit-ready governance. If you're adopting Oracle 23ai, ODBM is your essential SAM companion.
Oracle just released Oracle Database 23ai – Release Update 23.9, and it’s packed with enhancements that dramatically improve developer productivity, data management flexibility, security, and operations. From compile-time JavaScript checks to smarter AI‑vector indexing, this latest release reflects Oracle’s continued leadership in enterprise-grade, adaptive databases.
Developer Productivity and SQL Enhancements
- Compile‑Time JavaScript Syntax Checking ensures that JavaScript functions within the database are validated before runtime—avoiding errors and saving debugging time.
- No EXECUTE Privilege Required for JavaScript simplifies access control—developers can now create and run JavaScript stored modules without elevated privileges.
- GROUP BY ALL allows auto-grouping by all non-aggregated columns—simplifying complex query prototyping and reducing the risk of syntax mistakes.
- The UUID() SQL Function now supports RFC‑9562‑compliant UUIDv4 generation natively—ideal for unguessable identifiers.
- The new INSERT INTO … SET Clause (with BY NAME support) brings cleaner, more maintainable SQL for mass inserts, no need to align column positions manually.
Security & Access Control
- Multi‑Factor Authentication (MFA) adds a powerful layer of login security, supporting Duo, Oracle Mobile Authenticator, or PKI.
Data, Indexing & AI Vector Search Improvements
- IVF Index Online Reorganization allows vector indexes to be rebalanced without downtime.
- Partition Maintenance for Global IVF & HNSW Indexes enables partitioning operations (add, drop, merge, split) on tables with vector indexes.
- Hybrid Vector Index Enhancements now include sparse vector support, incremental HNSW snapshots, DBMS_SEARCH API support for index creation and alteration, and advanced search options (Weighted Reciprocal Rank Fusion, custom scoring, filtering).
JSON Handling & Operational Intelligence
- JSON to Duality Migrator with JSON Schema Support improves schema inference and control, even with minimal data sample.
- Database‑Resident Connection Pool (DRCP) Support for JavaScript enables scalable, pooled JS execution within the database.
- Oracle Update Advisor + Fleet Patching & Provisioning (FPP) simplifies patching workflows by automating recommendations and maintenance.
What This Means for License Asset Management (SAM)
Many SAM tools struggle to keep pace with rapidly evolving database environments, especially when datasets become dynamic, distributed, and AI‑augmented. Oracle 23ai’s advanced features elevate database capabilities, but they also raise the bar for license tracking, governance, and compliance.
How can organizations ensure they’re maximizing license value, maintaining compliance, and managing costs amid these ongoing innovations?
Enter Licenseware’s Oracle Database (ODBM).
Why ODBM Is the Perfect SAM Companion for Oracle 23ai
| Business Need | Challenge Without SAM | How ODBM Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility & Compliance | New features (e.g., AI indexing, JavaScript modules) complicate usage tracking and licensing scope. | ODBM auto-discovers all Oracle features and usage, mapping them to licensing entitlements and alerting on gaps. |
| Usage & Cost Optimization | Shared infrastructure and pooled resources can hide usage spikes or inefficiencies. | ODBM provides real-time usage analytics, cost forecasts, and rightsizing suggestions. |
| Governance & Auditable Trail | MFA, DRCP pools, and JSON migrations complicate audit trails. | ODBM logs feature usage, permission changes, and security configurations for full auditability. |
| Patch & Update Alignment | Rolling out 23.9 across environments requires careful coordination of licensing and compliance. | ODBM’s integration with Oracle FPP workflows ensures license readiness during updates. |
| Scalable Insight | Vector indexes and modern SQL constructs introduce new consumption patterns. | ODBM correlates resource usage (indexing, JS execution, JSON streams) with licensing impact. |
ODBM doesn’t just track Oracle—the solution connects database activities to the wider software estate, giving CFOs, compliance teams, and license managers the clarity they need to make informed decisions.
Final Thoughts
Oracle Database 23ai Release Update 23.9 is a major step forward in modern database capabilities—enabling developers, architects, and DBAs to build smarter, faster, and more resilient applications. Its AI vector enhancements, JS tooling, secure access improvements, and operational horsepower position it as one of Oracle’s most transformative releases yet.
But transformational tech requires transformational governance. Licenseware’s ODBM ensures that your journey into the future of database innovation remains compliant, cost-effective, and strategically aligned.
If you’re ready to unleash Oracle 23ai’s potential, without guesswork over your license position, reach out to Licenseware to explore how ODBM can empower your SAM strategy today.
Sources:
- Oracle Documentation: Release Update 23.9 features—including JS improvements, GROUP BY ALL, UUID(), syntax enhancements, MFA, AI vector indexing, JSON migration, DRCP, Update Advisor + FPP (Oracle Docs, Oracle Docs, Oracle Blogs, Wikipedia, Oracle Docs)
- Oracle Blogs: feature summaries for Release Update 23.9 (Oracle Blogs)
