Conquering your data management responsibilities can be a daunting task, but with the right setup you can achieve this quickly and consistently, resulting in improved efficiency and performance.
Here is a look at the ideal combination of strategies and solutions that will set you on the path to data management success, no matter the size of your business or the industry you operate within.
Database monitoring is essential
Whether you choose to host a database in-house or outsource this to a third party, you should aim to monitor it persistently and implement alerts and automation so that performance problems can be fixed quickly.
Being able to control your entire data estate via a single browser-based interface is obviously efficient as well as convenient, giving you the flexibility to keep on top of your management responsibilities wherever you happen to be.
Such functionality is part and parcel of contemporary database monitoring solutions, and while you should still compare the top services to find the one that matches your needs and budget, you cannot go far wrong so long as you opt for a reputable vendor’s product.
Transparency is important
The more opaque and arcane the data management setup you deploy, the harder it will be to glean actionable insights based on its operations, and the tougher it will become to meet the increasingly strict regulatory requirements which all modern businesses must comply with to avoid unwanted scrutiny and disruption.
As such, it is sensible to aim for a transparent approach to collecting, storing and analyzing data from the first point of contact to the moment at which it is put to use to power apps, services and decision-making, both internally and externally.
An additional advantage of this approach is that it will make your data management fundamentally more efficient, because you will avoid the overlapping of resources and the doubling up of investments that might occur in a less open and honest ecosystem.
Furthermore, setting down the rules and policies in formal documents will make sure that they can be followed and transferred throughout the organization, for maximum adherence and effectiveness.
Disaster recovery is integral
If your data management strategy does not encompass disaster recovery planning and contingencies, then no matter how efficient it might be on paper, in the long run it will prove to be inadequate.
This is not something that can be put off until another day; instead, it should be integrated from the ground up, ensuring that frequent backups are taken of all mission-critical information, regardless of where and how it is stored.
Again, it is possible to outsource these responsibilities to third party vendors, but ultimately you will still be responsible for taking this step, so there is no excuse for ignoring or overlooking it.
Efficiency, performance, and consistency must all be strived for by organizations when coming up with data management setups, and if you find that your current arrangement is not delivering the desired results, making a change is better than settling for something imperfect.
