As a network owner or administrator, part of your responsibilities is to safeguard the data in your system against unauthorized access. Defaulting in this responsibility gives cybercriminals a freeway to invade your system.
In this article, we shall discuss the benefits of database maintenance and how to maintain your database.
What Is Database Maintenance?
Database maintenance is a set of procedures followed to ensure that a database operates properly. Database management solutions such as Oracle and SQL Server necessitate regular updates to align with new technology and security risks.
Backups, data export/import operations, index reviews, object autoruns or removals, and other database maintenance actions are just a few examples of database maintenance.
Many people understand the need to back up databases, but database upkeep is a lesser-known concept. Database maintenance comprises a variety of duties that contribute to the safety of your data.
One form of database task is data export/import operations. This is critical since it allows you to recover from issues that have affected your systems, such as data corruption or hardware failures. It enables you to back up or migrate pieces of your database to another system for backup needs.
Databases are used to keep a library of valuable information, especially with a well-organized database index that speeds up record retrieval. Changes occur regularly as data is discarded, added, or moved from one location to another. Changes can also be made to the database’s parameters.
Administrators may choose to use alternative systems for indexing and other purposes. All of these modifications to the database system cause it to malfunction over time. This is where database maintenance comes in handy, as it helps to keep the system organized and clean so that it does not malfunction and create annoyance or losses.
Database maintenance is handled by personnel who are familiar with the system. These experts are well-versed in the characteristics and features of the specific system. One of the most important components of database maintenance is the backup of current data. If something bad happens, there is always to retrieve the data from the backup.
Some database systems automatically backup their data by sending it to another place at a predetermined time interval. However, backups are insufficient for database maintenance, and there is a need for other additional strategies to maintain the system operations.
When the right processes are in place, rest assured of enjoying a working data management system without fear of data loss.
What Are the Benefits of Database Maintenance?
Data maintenance is crucial for every network owner or administrator. There are many advantages of having a good data maintenance routine. This explains why leading organizations do not neglect to implement a good maintenance plan.
Here are some of the benefits of database maintenance. We have highlighted some of them below:
1. Keeps Companies Up to date
Innovations in technology are moving so fast, and organizations are trying so hard to keep up. And that’s because being current gives them a firmer footing. If you fail to adapt to the latest trends, whatever you’re offering becomes stale and unfit for present-day standards
With regular database maintenance, your data is as current as it gets. You are in a better position to cater to your audience.
2. Promotes Efficient Database
Database maintenance improves database efficiency by deleting redundant or useless data. On some systems, this may result in less processing overhead.
It is critical to ensure that databases are operating at peak performance. Clogs in the system will slow down your workflow and increase operational costs.
3. Simplifies Data Recovery
No matter how careful you try to be, sometimes, accidents occur. You may lose your data at any point due to an attack or a mishap. This could affect you and your business badly.
Database maintenance generates archival backups of critical data to enhance the data recovery process, making it easier for IT personnel to recover from disasters that damage their system.
Read More: What Is Data Recovery And How Does It Work?
4. Protects Against Malicious Threats
Your system may be prone to cyber threats without your knowledge. The smallest of threats could escalate if you don’t nip them in the bud on time.
Conducting database maintenance regularly assists in reducing downtime and guarding against malicious assaults. Not only does it help you to discover the threats, but it also gives you insights into how to resolve them.
5. Saves Time
You could use the time you spend on database administration activities towards other things, such as developing your company’s business or marketing strategy.
The most effective database maintenance techniques are automated. Once you initiate them, they work to clean up your system. You have more time on your hands to execute other productive tasks.
How to Maintain Your Database
To get the best result of database maintenance, you have to do it effectively. Otherwise, it might miss some critical details.
Accuracy is vital in implementing data. Without effective database management, the accuracy of your data is questionable.
Keep the following suggestions while maintaining your database.
1. Store Data in a Single File
Having your data clustered makes database management more difficult. It is better to have it in one fold for easy access and control.
Keep all of your data in a single program or file. This will save you from looking for it all over the place when you need to update data files.
2. Use Descriptive Titles
Clear, descriptive titles, definitions, and data tabs provide insight into the data. This will assist you in identifying pieces of data quickly. You can, for example, find finished campaigns, target groups, and relationship types.
Make it mandatory for all your team members to enter information directly into the system rather than saving it somewhere else. For example, you can consolidate all of your business connections into a single file that everyone on the team can easily access when needed.
3. Consolidate Data With Regular Updates
Make sure your database is updated by regularly changing the database’s tables. If you subject your system to frequent inserts and updates to all table structures, this will accumulate inefficient data pages when searched for.
4. Draft a Database Maintenance Plan
Database maintenance is so important that it requires strict adherence to a maintenance plan for efficiency.
The database maintenance plan is a proactive cybersecurity strategy regularly implemented on the database system to ensure risk prevention and optimal performance.
Leverage Database Maintenance for Efficiency
Protecting your data against attackers and other intruders is highly recommended in a society prone to cyberattacks. As a network administrator, you need to implement adequate cybersecurity measures to keep cybercriminals at bay.
But in case your cybersecurity defenses fail, database maintenance comes to the rescue by mitigating the impact of an attack. With its data recovery feature, you can retrieve most of your data, if not all of it.
Besides the cybersecurity benefits of database maintenance, it also enhances the user experience on your network.
