In this wonderful world of technology, we are used to the fact that everything’s done online. We shop, bank, and even find dates through the Internet. Whereas once upon a time, businesses had rows upon rows of client files, the brilliant minds of Silicon Valley have made our lives easier by coming up with things like the Cloud. We get to save the trees and access information from anywhere there’s an internet connection. It’s like Back to the Future, but better.
However, these innovative wonders are not perfect. Every now and then, someone will think they lost important data, and they'll feel a sudden urge to rush to the restroom. In a best-case scenario, the same can be retrieved by tech ninjas like all of us here at Soaring Eagle Database Consulting. In a worst-case scenario, if you lose all your files for good and they can't be retrieved, brace yourself for lawsuits. And if you work at a law firm, start preparing your defense for when the Florida Bar comes knocking on your door.
In the spirit of making your database management as efficient as possible for your business, here are some of the most common issues and how to overcome them.
Top 5 Database Management System Problems and Solutions
1. Scalability
Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook from his dorm room. How impressive is that? And now he runs his company from one of the coolest campuses in town. Since we know that your business is as awesome as Facebook, you’re probably growing and need to scale your database accordingly. Depending on your particular business needs, you may need to do so vertically or horizontally.
2. Cybersecurity
No matter how great your security measures are, there is always room for improvement. Only allow access to employees who have an actual need to view the data. Always encrypt your information. Update your cybersecurity software on a regular basis. Do regular database health checks to see if you have to patch any vulnerabilities. Remind your staff over and over again about your policies, until they start rolling their eyes at you; and whenever you get a chance, do some "surprise" check, to see if they're really listening.
3. Back up your database
If giants like Equifax and Yahoo can suffer major security breaches, so can you. Don’t smile smugly thinking that your business is too small to suffer a similar fate. Cyber-attacks cost small businesses in our country between $84,000 and $148,000. And that’s not even counting the loss of reputation or maybe even having to close down your business. Don’t risk it. Always back up your data. Have two copies of everything and store them in separate places. If one gets lost, the second set will save you from a heart attack and your business operations can continue running smoothly.
4. Speed
Raise your hand if you like dealing with a slow computer. Anyone? Didn’t think so. If every time you are trying to retrieve data, you get another wrinkle on your face, it’s time to optimize your systems. Start by indexing properly and by not including too many joins on your SQL queries. If that’s not the issue, you may need to increase your bandwidth. Or you may have a virus. This is why it’s so crucial for you to do regular database health checks.
5. Integration
Maybe a fortnight and some time ago, your database management was pretty simple, but as you scaled your databases, new complexities emerged, and now you're stumped as to how to modify your DBM accordingly. If you provide omni-channel services, now you also have to integrate data from all of your many sources. You can do so with software specifically designed for this purpose.
Get Your Free Database Evaluation Today
Getting started is simple. Click the button below to request your free one-hour database assessment from the DBA experts at Soaring Eagle Consulting®.
Get Your Free Database Evaluation
If all of this makes sense to you, then get to work on making sure your databases are running efficiently. If it’s all going over your head or you don’t have the time or skills to do this efficiently, contact us. At Soaring Eagle, we’d love to help you optimize your database. It's what we do.
Want Your Database to Soar Like an Eagle?
Check out our ultimate database checklist to help you check on your database’s performance and maintenance.
