What is a database management system (DBMS)?
“A database management system (DBMS) is a collection of programs that manage the database structure and controls access to the data stored in the database”.
The DBMS serves as the intermediate between the user and the database. The database structure is stored as a collection of files. These data can be accessed in those files through the DBMS.
The DBMS hides much of the database’s internal complexity from the application programs and users.
Advantages of Database Management System (DBMS)
- Better data sharing
The main advantage of DBMS is that it helps to create an environment in which the end users get better access to more and structured data. This structured and easy access makes it possible for end users to respond quickly to the change in their environment.
- Better data security
Easy accessibility creates greater risks of data security breaches. Corporation invests a considerable amount of money, time, and effort to ensure the better security. A DBMS provides a framework for better implementation of data policies and data privacy.
- Improved data integration
Wider access to well-structured data promotes combined a view of organisation’s operations and a richer view of the big picture. It becomes much easier to see the effects of one segment of the company on the other segment.
- Minimized data inconsistency
Data inconsistency results due to the variable version of th3e same data in different places. For example, data inconsistency exists when a company’s sales department stores a sales representative’s name as “Tom Williams” and the company’s personnel department stores that same person’s name as “Thomas J. Williams” or when the company’s regional sales offices shows the cost of a product as $ 30.95 and its national sales office reflects the same product’s cost as $28.95. A DBMS helps is a reduction of data inconsistency due to the properly designed database.
- Improved decision making
Improved and better-managed data makes it possible to generate better quality information which helps in better decision making. The quality of the information processed depends on the quality if the underlying data. A DBMS does not guarantee data quality but gives a framework to facilitate data quality initiatives.
- Increased end-user productivity
Easy accessibility and availability of data, along with the tools that convert data into usable information, permits end users to make informed decisions. This brings the difference success and failure in the global economy.
The different benefits of DBMS are known but it certainly has some drawbacks or disadvantages. Let’s see various disadvantages of the database system.
Disadvantage of Database Management System (DBMS)
Although the database system yields significant advantages these database systems do carry considerable disadvantages.
- Increased costs
One of the disadvantages of DBMS is database systems require sophisticated hardware, software, and highly skilled personnel. The cost of maintaining these requisites and manage a database system can be substantial. Training, licensing, and regulation compliance costs are often unheeded when database systems are employed.
- Management intricacy
Database systems interface with many different technologies and have a significant impact on a company’s resources and culture. The changes introduced by the adoption of a database system must be properly managed to ensure that they help advance the company’s objectives. Given the fact that database systems hold crucial company data that are accessed from multiple sources, security issues must be assessed constantly.
- Maintaining currency
To maximize the efficiency of the database system, you must keep your system current. Therefore, you must perform frequent updates, apply the latest patches, and security measures to all components.
As database technology advances rapidly, personnel training costs tend to be significant. Given the heavy investment in technology and personnel training, companies might be reluctant to change database vendors.
As a consequence, vendors are less likely to offer pricing point advantages to existing customers, and those customers might be limited in their choice of database system components.
- Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles
DBMS vendors frequently upgrade their products by adding new functionality. Such new features often come bundled in new upgrade versions of the software. Some of these versions require hardware upgrades. Not only do the upgrades themselves cost money, but it also costs money to train database users and administrators to properly use and manage the new features.
