Information Technology Security: What is Database Maintenance?

Summary: This 3-minute article explains what database maintenance means and why it’s essential for the secure and efficient operation of your SMB. By understanding the importance of having a database maintenance plan, you can protect your databases and avoid costly database security issues. Contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) or visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to schedule a cyber risk analysis and discuss the best database protection and maintenance possible for your small to midsized business.

Databases are digital libraries. As such, they organize and make data readily accessible. Generally, databases are changing all the time, with the addition, deletion and migration of information. However, changes in databases often lead to their loss of speed and functionality in the retrieval of data.

Database Maintenance

To ensure that your databases remain clean, fast and fully functional, it is essential to perform regular database maintenance. Database issues can be avoided if a database maintenance plan is in place. However, the systems and technology used to maintain databases properly are generally beyond the scope of the average user. Also, SMBs often don’t have the time or the money to hire or train staff in database maintenance.

However, one significant action related to maintaining any database is performing backups. Backups are invaluable because, in the event of a problem, a clean copy will be available for restoration. But a copy of a database is only a snapshot of the data at the time of backup. If the database has already slowed down or malfunctioned, a backup alone will not fix the issues. Database management also involves:

• Scanning for Signs of Corruption – Most SMBs should employ IT experts to perform
• Identifying Problem Sections – Your database may not be unsalvageable. It is possible that problematic sections can be repaired by IT professionals.
• Deletion of Duplicate Entries – Theoretically, this task could be achieved by non-techies. However, it is a painstaking task that could be very time-consuming, depending on the size of the database. IT professionals can automate the deletion of database duplicates.
• Rebuilding of Indexes – Just as traditional libraries use indexes to help sort and retrieve data, programs can be employed to automate index rebuilding to streamline the data retrieval process.

Database Services

SMBs cannot ignore the need to maintain their databases regularly. Beyond expected degradation of database performance over time, cyber security concerns can also threaten database integrity. Databases are the lifeblood of businesses. They might contain lists of clients, proprietary information and other private and sensitive data vulnerable to cyberattacks.

SMB owners often feel that they are not large enough to interest cybercriminals. However, cybercriminals view small to midsized businesses as “low hanging fruit,” affording easier access to hackers’ target landscapes. Over the past few years, the scary truth is that 60 percent of small to midsized businesses have gone out of business within six months of a cyberattack. Therefore, it is crucial that SMBs embrace database maintenance as a priority. A cyber risk analysis should be done by IT professionals who understand what they are looking for and all the steps that must be taken to ensure you have minimized or locked down all potential vulnerabilities in your databases and throughout your systems.

In summary, comprehensive database management is essential for all businesses. Databases provide robustly organized and easy-to-access data storage, sharing and retrieval and are meant to enhance business functionalities, not slow them down.

Professional IT security consulting is the best way to ensure you have the proper layers of cyber security in place to protect your SMB’s databases and your entire network. In addition, they can perform a threat assessment to see what action needs to be taken to protect your business data better. The current expanded remote work environment has broadened the target landscape for hackers, and databases, applications, devices and all endpoints have become more vulnerable than ever. Unfortunately, the most prolific hackers can eventually breach most cyber protections with enough time and resources. However, with robust cyber security in place, cyberattacks of all kinds can be spotted early, mitigated and contained before data is breached and extensive damage is done to your business network and all its endpoint devices.

Unfortunately, cyber threat protection against hacks has become too complex for amateurs. Many essential considerations are far beyond the expertise of the most tech-savvy users. Professional IT security consulting is the best way to protect your business fully. In addition, IT pros can help you devise a detailed cyber incident response plan.

DIGIGUARD Cyber Security is an IT security service specializing in cyber threat protection for small to midsized companies. In addition, DIGIGUARD can provide your SMB with powerful layers of security, making it more difficult for hackers to access your network. Therefore, your company’s data will be safer and less likely to be breached in the face of our expanding mobile work environment. Furthermore, DIGIGUARD can assess your cyber vulnerability and work with you to ensure your databases are secure and have the best network and data protection solutions for your business.

Contact DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) or visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to explore database maintenance and other essential strategies to guard against deadly cyberattacks and keep your SMB running smoothly and securely.