The world of database management has changed. The once hot-button topic debating the benefits of public versus private cloud is fast becoming obsolete, as organizations grapple with operating multiple databases in hybrid cloud environments. With software now running on multiple databases-the quantity of data to be managed by database administrators is getting quickly overwhelming. Adding to management issues the high cost of handling and ever-increasing security risks, database management can put a significant strain on company resources.
However, it is an issue that cannot be ignored. Given the integral role databases play in the day-to-day running of an organization, businesses have no choice but to find new, easier ways to tackle database management. Therefore, companies must develop a robust strategy for handling data, so that resources can be diverted to growth rather than management.
Skyrocketing costs
The costs associated with managing the swift increase in complexity and intricate interdependencies between applications, databases, and external services is becoming problematic. A 2021 report from IDC showed that nearly three quarters (73 percent) of organizations implement multiple tools and processes to manage on-premises databases versus their cloud databases, resulting in companies purchasing redundant tools and having to maintain them, while also putting increasing pressure on staffing. Companies are ending up paying significant amounts of overtime to database administrators as they close the lag caused by staffing inefficiencies, according to a Forrester report. In fact, one study by Forrester showed that staffing inefficiencies result in organizations having to pay database administrator (DBA) teams significant amounts of overtime so they were able to catch up.
Traditional IT approaches that use legacy tooling to manage databases running on legacy infrastructure are, in today’s climate, simply too slow to meet the mission-critical initiatives of the business. In addition, such approaches result in siloed operations and duplicated resources and processes, further increasing the cost of operations. Organizations are under increasing pressure to reduce spending, driving demand for innovative ways to make database management more efficient, agile, and responsive. A great example of this is RBL Bank and their new infrastructure based on Nutanix Cloud Platform, which has reduced login times and has scaled transaction capacity.
With businesses at a breaking point, organisations will turn to simplified database management solutions which allow multiple databases to be managed via a single platform. Offerings such as Database-as-a-Service (DBaaS), which provides access to databases without requiring users to perform complex operations such as installing, configuring, and maintaining complex infrastructure and database software, will only become more popular as organizations look for more simplified ways to manage multiple databases while also reducing operational costs.
Data Recovery
Data protection strategies are essential for any company, but equally essential are data recovery solutions. Although it is challenging to protect data against attacks in the first place, database management platforms can assist when it comes to data recovery. In legacy environments, patching security vulnerabilities can result in lengthy periods of downtime, which according to a Forrester study, equated to approximately US$35,000 per hour in losses from productivity and revenue loss. However, database management systems allow organizations to restore and roll back to a precise point before a compromise took place – a highly efficient method compared with doing so manually.
These solutions offer more flexibility and efficiency for database administrators and IT managers during disaster recovery. Much like a video player embedded on a website, this functionality allows you to scrub back and forth to a particular instant, before continuing on in the desired state. This is especially important as some backups might be part of an infected database. With greater granularity, you can avoid restoring from a compromised point in time.
Simplifying database management
As organisations deal with increasing data and complex database environments, enormous amounts of time and resources are being spent on database management. Many businesses are running business critical applications and services on top of these sprawling databases, without proper integration. It is a complex, time consuming way of working which comes at enormous operational cost. Working on such infrastructures disrupts growth in the future and can also inhibit the workflow of employees and the organisation. Enterprises are investing in solutions that simplify database management as it allows them to focus on their mission-critical steps rather than invest resource and time into managing large sums of data.
In the current economic climate, solutions which simplify database management across public and private clouds, that slash legacy practices from days or weeks to just minutes, and that can protect databases with one-click or fast clones and snapshots to aid data recovery, are a must for organizations, now and in the future. Databases are critical to company success, and organizations must transform their infrastructure, management tools, and processes in a way that allows them to reduce costs, improve data recovery and simplify day to day operations.
(The author is Mr. Faiz Shakir, Managing Director – Sales, Nutanix India & SAARC at Nutanix and the views expressed in this article are his own)
