Database Management

Complete database management involves both a computer program that allows multiple users to utilize a database simultaneously and technical resources to configure and maintain the database server.

Database Management System

The computer program that provides database management is typically called a database management system. A database management system allows multiple users to access and modify the data in a database. The database management system keeps track of where the data is physically located on the storage media, who has security clearance to access or modify it, how to grant simultaneous access, and what relationships have been established within the data. There are numerous database management systems from which to choose, including Oracle, MySQL, MS SQL, PostgreSQL, DB2, and Sybase programs. Database management systems are typically designed to work with a specific operating system, such as Linux and UNIX or Windows.

Database Management Issues

Database management also requires skilled technical resources to configure and maintain the database server on which the database resides. This requirement of database management is often overlooked by companies to their detriment. This management must be provided, whether by internal IT resources, a database management provider, or a hosting company with database expertise. It is expensive to develop a database and that investment can be wasted without the proper maintenance. A database is very dynamic and without database management the performance of the database will degrade overtime. It also is important to configure the database server correctly at the start to achieve peak performance, allow for easy scalability, simplify backups and permit efficient database management.