Media Coverages
Automation Can Save You from Database Disaster
By Robert Gardos 12/12/2005
The data never stops. Not only is the amount of data managed within enterprises already high, but the rate of data growth is continuing to accelerate, with large enterprises nearly doubling the amount of information under management every year. As more and more of this detail is captured in the relational database, it's no wonder that organizations have quickly become overwhelmed by database administration.
Unfortunately, the problem is not just about managing the growth. It's about control. Who controls the data? Is it protected? How can I securely manage my data in an environment where half of all DBAs leave their jobs within 24 months? How can I ensure that best practices regarding the management of my data are being followed?
Databases — One of the Most Overlooked Components of IT
To find the answer, we need to better understand the reality of available resources - specifically, the role of a DBA. While we would like to think that the recent flood of SB 1386, Sarbanes Oxley and HIPAA violations has made enterprises finally focus their energies on database control, this is not the case. Time is spent keeping the current ship afloat, with more than 80% of the DBAs energies dedicated to performing repetitive mechanical tasks and putting out fires.
With their remaining precious minutes, DBAs fit in deployments and tunings - tasks that actually drive revenue. Forget about protecting who has access to what, since there is simply no time to deal with these issues. And with the number of databases increasing, this problem is only getting worse.
The responsibility of a DBA is simply overwhelming, and the power of a DBA is even more alarming. Ironically, despite the attention enterprises are giving to compliance and security issues, the current database structure still allows the DBA to do an end-run around any security and reporting controls. In light of this, it should come as no surprise that databases are one of the most overlooked yet vulnerable parts of today's IT infrastructure.
Fortunately, more enterprises are beginning to recognize the database problem and are implementing specialized management solutions to ensure database integrity, and help DBAs become more efficient by automating everyday tasks like patching and managing complex database infrastructures.
Database Automation and Policy Enforcement are the Cure
In a world where management wants information in every way possible, where legacy environments never die and where data accuracy can be the difference between uptime or jail time, taking control of the database infrastructure is an absolute necessity. The only way out of this mess is to embrace that popular IT phrase, "do more with less". The cure, in this case, is automation and policy enforcement.
Databases are incredibly complex objects with their own rules of administration. However, by design, traditional platform-specific database management tools offer limited usefulness in today's heterogeneous environment, let alone control. The shortcomings of these management tools have given rise to a specialized class of database automation tools that simplify the monitoring and management of the database infrastructure through automation and analysis. Specialized automation tools not only help eliminate repetitive tasks but improve the DBA's ability to solve more strategic business issues like maximizing service levels and improving revenue .
Imagine the benefits of combining comprehensive audit information with outage alerts or instantly tracking anomalous database activity by DBAs in a non-repudiated format. Organizations need to reallocate the time that is wasted patching and upgrading databases to higher value activities. In short, DBAs need to work smarter, not harder and a database automation engine is the critical facilitator.
Database Havoc: No One is Immune
Database havoc is an equal opportunity IT problem affecting enterprises of all sizes. Below are some examples:
Problem #1: One of the largest financial institutions in the world is currently administering more than 30,000 relational databases across different platforms with this number increasing by 10-15% each year. The ability to enforce standard operating procedures is difficult, since this organization doesn't even have an accurate inventory of the infrastructure. Currently, hundreds - literally hundreds - of DBAs are tasked just with keeping these systems up.
Solution: By automating the management of their database infrastructure, this organization can obtain a comprehensive view/inventory into their heterogeneous environment while enforcing standardized deployments. Eliminating much of the repetitive tasks of the DBA and supporting root cause analysis on database issues enables the financial institution to maintain DBA headcount and support the ongoing growth of the infrastructure.
Problem #2: A mid-sized pharmaceutical company needs to track all anomalous database activity, including schema changes and direct inserts, in a non-repudiated format, by mandate of its internal compliance group to ensure data integrity. While initially they used a home-grown auditing system, it was quickly determined that the system could be easily manipulated.
Solution: An automated database management approach can ensure best practices with built-in safeguards to centrally audit all pre-defined DBA activities, ranging from standard information tracked in the database audit log, to user-based events that trigger an audit action. In addition, by embracing a comprehensive database automation solution the company gains a much-needed view into its entire database infrastructure.
Problem #3: An ecommerce company that primarily uses big iron to power its database infrastructure is looking to dramatically reduce hardware and software costs while maintaining performance and availability. Although distributed database technologies like Oracle RAC are being explored, there is significant hesitation due to increased complexity.
Solution: Database automation technology is the perfect facilitator to any distributed database environment. By providing a single, standardized view into the infrastructure, companies can eliminate the added complexity of Oracle RAC, providing big box manageability at an affordable price point.
These examples are just the tip of the iceberg. But regardless of the enterprise, the bottom line is that with automation, organizations can not only improve productivity but they can also better control activity. Automation enables standardization and accountability. Documented policies and procedures can now be enforced at the deployment level. This not only mitigates the issue of DBA turnover but it also ensures that the enterprise is protected from inappropriate activity.
Tremendous advancements have been made in data center automation. This has been driven by need more than anything else. As IT professionals, it is time to embrace database automation, since databases are the engine that keeps the business going. If not, the data won't stop growing, but your business just might.
Robert Gardos is President of GridApp Systems, a leading provider of database automation and management solutions that help simplify and manage critical database operational tasks such as deployment, patch management, auditing, encryption and replication. http://www.gridapp.com.