A method, system, and computer-program product for handling network partitions in a network is provided. For example, a method can include providing a first compute node and a second compute node on the network. In such an example, the first compute node can include a master instance of a cryptographic database. In addition, the second compute node can include a first synchronous slave instance associated with the master instance. The method can further include identifying a network partition event on the network. The method can further include providing an asynchronous slave instance associated with the master instance and changing the asynchronous slave instance to a second synchronous slave instance in response to identifying the network partition event.