How the Fourth National Database Test Reshapes China's Domestic DB Competition

On May 26, 2026, the China Information Security Evaluation Center and the National Confidential Technology Evaluation Center jointly published the fourth edition of the "Security and Reliability Test" (commonly known as "Guoce"), adding 23 database products to the certified list—8 centralized and 15 distributed.

Three major changes emerge from the fourth‑phase list:

1. Significant growth in Level II certifications, raising product maturity. Five products achieved Level II certification this round, bringing the cumulative total to six (2 centralized, 4 distributed). The Level II tier imposes stricter requirements on product safety compliance, high availability, fault recovery, and data integrity than Level I, indicating that domestic databases have made substantial progress in core‑business capability, security protection, and service continuity.

Products receiving Level II certification include:

GaussDB V2.0 (centralized)

DM (Da Meng) Database Management System V9 (centralized)

DM Database Management System (distributed) V9

Yashan Distributed Database Management System V23

GaussDB V3.0 (distributed)

GoldenDB V7

2. Product forms become more diversified, with the first-time inclusion of time‑series NoSQL databases. The new entrants TimechoDB and DolphinDB represent a shift away from the traditional relational‑database‑centric landscape toward specialized time‑series solutions, reflecting broader market demand for scenario‑specific databases such as time‑series, graph, and wide‑table models.

3. Vendor ecosystem diversifies, with telecom and fintech firms joining the arena. Previously, certified vendors were mainly independent database specialists or leading cloud providers. The fourth list adds players backed by telecom operators (e.g., Tianyi Cloud, China Mobile) and financial‑technology companies (e.g., China UnionPay, Ping An Technology, Kingwow), introducing new compliant products and potentially reshaping competitive dynamics.

The certification remains valid for three years. Products certified in the first round of 2023 will face expiration this year, prompting many leading vendors to release new versions or expand product matrices to maintain market eligibility. Those that fail to renew may lose bidding opportunities in the trusted‑computing market.

From a macro perspective, 2026 is a critical window for the domestic database industry, with accelerated adoption in government, finance, and energy sectors intensifying competition. Customers seek faster selection and procurement cycles, while vendors must balance testing schedules and version‑release plans to ensure continuous compliance. The evolving certification standards, which now accommodate scenario‑driven products, will further align the ecosystem with real‑world needs.

In summary, the fourth national test is not an endpoint but a new starting point: it provides a valuable reference for customers, yet actual product performance, long‑term service capability, and sustained investment remain essential for market success.