IT
IT infrastructure robustness has seen great improvements in recent years yet database, hardware and software downtime are still regular occurrences in organizations.
Downtime may last from just a few hours to several days. In the case of total loss, hardware and software can ultimately be replaced. Data however is irreplaceable. You have hardware and software support contracts in place but who is managing your database and resident data?
Database Management: The Key issues
Keeping your data safe through database management is a continuous process as database volumes and structures constantly change. There are a number of key issues that need to be taken into consideration when implementing Database Management.
Performance
Database performance is determined by its design and structure. These require on-going fine tuning to maintain high performance.
Resilience
Irrespective of the specific applications deployed and the particular physical infrastructure the data you store there is unique. To safeguard this irreplaceable information it is vital that best practice resilience is implemented including tested redundancy and disaster recovery.
Security
Critical data must be hosted in a fully protected database environment. Access must be allowed only at levels necessary for the company to function.
Database Responsibility
Companies often assume that application vendors or infrastructure service providers will take adequate measures to protect their data. However, this is not necessarily the case. Unfortunately, it is often only when issues of performance degradation, data loss or security breaches occur that the lack of database management becomes apparent.
Any company that records critical data should determine who is responsible for database management and optimization of database processes.
A dedicated Database Administrator will ensure all necessary checks and controls are in place and are reviewed on an on-going basis. However, an in-house dedicated Database Administrator is a costly resource and may not be necessary on a full-time basis. Outsourcing database infrastructure management is far more cost effective and does not leave you reliant on a single administrator or a small number of staff.
By Ger O'Donovan, Database Services Manager of Trilogy Technologies.