09/06/2024
1-7c Managing the Database System: A Shift in Focus
The introduction of a database system over the file system provides a framework in
which strict procedures and standards can be enforced. Consequently, the role of the
human component changes from an emphasis on programming (in the file system) to a
focus on the broader aspects of managing the organization’s data resources and on the
administration of the complex database software itself.
The database system makes it possible to tackle far more sophisticated uses of the data
resources, as long as the database is designed to make use of that power. The kinds of data
structures created within the database and the extent of the relationships among them
play a powerful role in determining the effectiveness of the database system.
Although the database system yields considerable advantages over previous data
management approaches, database systems do carry significant disadvantages:
• Increased costs. Database systems require sophisticated hardware and software and
highly skilled personnel. The cost of maintaining the hardware, software, and personnel required to operate and manage a database system can be substantial. Training,
licensing, and regulation compliance costs are often overlooked when database systems are implemented.
• Management complexity. Database systems interface with many different technologies and have a significant impact on a company’s resources and culture. The changes
introduced by the adoption of a database system must be properly managed to ensure
that they help advance the company’s objectives. Because database systems hold crucial company data that are accessed from multiple sources, security issues must be
assessed constantly.
• Maintaining currency. To maximize the efficiency of the database system, you must keep
your system current. Therefore, you must perform frequent updates and apply the latest
patches and security measures to all components. Because database technology advances
rapidly, personnel training costs tend to be significant.
• Vendor dependence. Given the heavy investment in technology and personnel training, companies might be reluctant to change database vendors. As a consequence,
vendors are less likely to offer pricing point advantages to existing customers, and
those customers might be limited in their choice of database system components.
• Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles. DBMS vendors frequently upgrade their products by adding new functionality. Such new features often come bundled in new
upgrade versions of the software. Some of these versions require hardware upgrades.
Not only do the upgrades themselves cost money, it also costs money to train database
users and administrators to properly use and manage the new features.
Now that you know what a database and DBMS are, and why they are necessary, you are
ready to begin developing your career as a database professional
1-8 Preparing for Your Database
Professional Career
In this chapter, you were introduced to the concepts of data, information, databases, and
DBMSs. You also learned that, regardless of what type of database you use (OLTP, OLAP,
or NoSQL), or what type of database environment you are working in (e.g., Oracle,
Microsoft, IBM, or Hadoop), the success of a database system greatly depends on how
well the database structure is designed