Data are the raw material from which information is produced. Therefore, it is not surprising that in today’s information-driven environment, data are a valuable asset that requires careful management. To access data’s monetary value, data that stored in company database are data about customers, suppliers, inventory, and operations and so on. Imagine that all the data in the database loss. What will happen if the situation like that happen? Data loss puts any company in a difficult position. The company might be unable to handle daily operation effectively; it might be faced with the loss of customers who require quick and efficient service, and it might lose the opportunity to gain new customers. Data are a valuable resource that can translate into information. If the information is accurate and timely, it is likely to trigger action that enhance the company’s competitive position and generate wealth. In effect, an organization is Continue reading
Database Management Systems
Database Management System (DBMS) – Components, Advantages, and Disadvantages
A Database management system (DBMS) is software designed to manage and maintain large quantities of data. The DBMS serves as the mediator between the user and the database. The database structure itself is stored as a collection of files. The data in these files can only be accessed through the DBMS. A single, integrated view of the data in the database is shown to the user by the DBMS. All application requests received by the DBMS are translated into complex operations required to fulfill these requests. The database’s internal complexity is hidden by the DBMS from the application programs and users. The application program might be written by a computer programmer using a programming language, such as Visual Basic, NET, Java, or C#, or it might be created through a DBMS utility program. Components of a Database Management System A data definition language (DDL) allows users to define the database. Continue reading
Database Security Threats and Countermeasures
Information is very critical asset. Organizations create so much information and they use database systems to handle the information within them to automate various functions. Due to information importance, information protection is a critical component of the database management system. Information security is the goal of a database management system (DBMS), also called database security. To be able to manage a huge amount of data effectively and fast, a well organized system is needed to build. It will also need to store and retrieve data easily. Generally, a database system is designed to be used by many users simultaneously for the specific collections of data. Databases are classified based on their types of collections, such as images, numeric, bibliographic or full-text. Digitized databases are created by using management system to make, store, maintain or search the data. Oracle, MS SQL and Sybase servers are mostly used in companies, agencies and Continue reading
Important Features of Database Systems
A major feature of a database system is to provide users with an abstract view of data i.e. the system hides certain details of how data is stored and maintained. 1) Data Abstraction Data abstraction is the property of showing only the necessary details to a user and hides the rest of the details from that user. Since many database system users are not computer trained, developers hide the complexity from users through several levels of abstraction, to simplify user’s interactions with the system. Physical level – This level describes how data is actually stored in the database. Logical level — This level what data are stored in the database and what relationship exist among those data. The entire database is described to a community of users. The logical level of abstraction is used by Database Administrators (DBA) who must decide what information is to be stored in the database. Continue reading