Every organisation needs to store and retrieve data, which means every business needs a database. More specifically, they need a database that is managed effectively and properly optimised.ย
While almost all businesses have a database, theyโre often run on overly expensive legacy systems that lack scalability. Or theyโre ineffectively managed, due to internal skills gaps or a lack of investment.ย ย
We want to fix that, so we created this guide to educate businesses on the importance (and benefits) of database management.ย
The importance of databases and database managementย
Databases are an essential part of many business processes; customer management, financial transactions, decision-making, and inventory management โ all rely on storing and retrieving data. Database management is just as important, as it ensures data integrity, compliance, and overall performance do not degrade over time โ allowing a business to:ย ย
Meet customer expectationsย
Databases power customer service. When managed properly, they allow businesses to create personalised experiences that resonate with consumers โ including marketing campaigns, customer preferences, and website experiences. As well as the real-time data needed to deliver fast, quality service experiences to customers.ย ย
Make data-driven decisionsย
Databases donโt simply store data (if yours does, you deserve better!) They power analytics and insights platforms, too. Maintaining data properly is essential for identifying trends, forecasting outcomes, and predicting customer demand.ย ย
Improve operational efficiencyย
Data is a goldmine for business leaders. With good data, they can remediate problems, spot inefficiencies & bottlenecks, and drive continual improvement. And of course, thereโs AI. Features like task automation, AI-insights, and agents all rely on databases to function. To benefit from these, businesses need a well-managed and properly optimised database.ย
Common challenges with database managementย
Weโve talked to a lot of businesses in the 10+ years weโve been providing IT managed and professional services (including database management). Many still rely on legacy systems with poorly optimised architectures, which were never designed to handle the complexity of data in a modern business.ย ย
From our experience, there are three recurring challenges that businesses face when it comes to managing their database:ย ย
- Limited scalabilityย ย
Databases take up a lot of space which (like everything in life) isnโt free. As your business grows, the amount of data you need to store and the complexity of that data will grow too.ย ย
Legacy systems are not designed to handle the complexity of modern data, so they can lack scalability. Leading to bottlenecks, fragmented data, and performance issues that impact customers and internal operations.ย ย
- Poor performance and downtimeย ย
Poor database performance is more than an annoyance for your internal team; it can impact customers, too.ย ย
Outdated or poorly maintained databases are one of the leading causes of service outages. If customers are regularly unable to access your services or applications, the risk of losing them increases dramatically.ย ย
And though even global enterprises canโt avoid downtime completely (as evidenced by this PlayStation Network outage in February) thereโs a big difference between a single event and a frequent occurrence.ย ย
- Security vulnerabilitiesย
Itโs common knowledge that cybercrime is on the rise, in a big way. The tactics that hackers use are more complex and diverse than ever before, which makes even small database vulnerabilities a big cause for concern.ย ย
Outdated or poorly maintained databases are easier to exploit than modern-day systems. This is because zero-day exploits are better known, and vendor updates are less frequent (if they occur at all). With legacy systems, especially, Denial of Service (DoS) and injection attacks are far more effective.ย
Modern databases have multi-layered security features and compliance capabilities, including manual privacy controls like row & column-level encryption, dynamic data masking, and real-time threat detection. And, unlike legacy systems, modern platforms can restrict access based on user context to prevent unauthorised viewing.ย
The benefits of outsourcing database managementย
To realise value from a database, businesses have to put in a lot of work. Thereโs choosing the right type of database, establishing processes, data security, compliance, upkeep, and monitoring to think about. Itโs a lot!ย
And if a database is implemented or maintained poorly, it can result in poor performance, limited scalability & increased costs.ย ย
Businesses that donโt have the time or resources to manage their database often use a partner instead. This ensures they have:ย ย
- Access to specialists: Leverage deep expertise in database technologies (SQL, Oracle, MySQL, etc.).ย
- 24/7 monitoring & support: Proactive issue detection and resolution.ย
- Reduced costs: Organisations donโt have to hire (or train) full-time experts to benefit from a great database.ย ย ย
- Scalability: A good partner will give you flexibility, allowing you to scale your database size and complexity up or down, depending on your needs.ย ย
- Real focus: With data management covered, businesses can focus on strategic initiatives that help them grow.ย ย
- Security and compliance: A database service provider will ensure your data is stored safely and in line with your local regulations (such as the General Data Protection Regulation or the California Privacy Rights Act).ย
What a great database management service looks likeย ย
Using a partner allows businesses to focus on strategic initiatives and growth, rather than the complexities of database management.ย ย
A great partner will regularly maintain your database, proactively identify and mitigate problems, and ensure your applications and services run smoothly. Weโve been providing database management services to our partners for 10+ years, so we speak from experience when we say a great service should:ย
- Have a 24/7 support desk and access to technical resources on demand.ย ย
- Proactively identify and remediate issues in line with your SLA.ย
- Support you with migrations if your technology requirements change.ย
- Include regular health checks, including onsite assessments and reports with recommendations.ย
- Maintain and update your database to meet compliance and security standards.ย ย
Need help with data management or want to partner with us? Contact us for more information.
