This podcast introduce ScyllaDB, a distributed NoSQL database designed for high performance and scalability, often presented as an alternative to Apache Cassandra and Amazon DynamoDB. Key features discussed include its shard-per-core architecture, a custom cache, and its implementation in C++ to avoid garbage collection pauses, contributing to lower latency and higher throughput. The sources highlight concepts like denormalization and query-first design as crucial for optimal performance in ScyllaDB, contrasting them with practices common in relational databases. Additionally, the text touches on security features such as authentication, authorization (including Role-Based Access Control - RBAC), and various methods for data encryption (at rest and in transit), alongside monitoring capabilities and deployment options like Scylla Cloud (DBaaS) and self-hosting via Docker.