12 tips for your database strategy

Database Strategy Tips

BAS Technologies have helped many clients establish a healthy database strategy tailored to their business needs. Firstly, in my opinion, any strategy must be clear and easy to understand. I have seen too many strategies that go too deep too early in some areas and ignore areas that really matter. Apply KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and you will be on target – this especially important in today’s high pressure environments with multiple highly complex systems.

  1. There is not a one solution that fits all, start by working out the high level components before going deep.
  2. Inventory your database assets, understand what you already have and document it.
  3. Understand and document your department’s strengths and capabilities. This will help understand where you need to skill up or outsource. Managed services are a great way to fill skills gaps.
  4. Talk to the business! Don’t create a strategy in isolation and force it on your customers. What do they need to do their jobs and help the business grow?
  5. Understand your spend and budget. Not just the now, but past and future trends in your organization and others.
  6. Product licensing, how much, which vendors and what agreement level. Again, not just the now but the trends.
  7. Choose your preferred technologies and alternatives that you want to support as defaults. Define when not using defaults might be acceptable and what needs to be in place for this to happen. This will help in choosing applications and systems in the future.
  8. Create service levels, not all systems have the same availability and redundancy requirements. Talking with the business will help identify this. It is easier and more consistent to have a few templates than tailoring each system. A Bronze, Sliver, Gold service ranking is quite clear and each level would have it’s own SLA’s.
  9. Understand and document legal or compliance requirements for the different types of data that you may create, store or access.
  10. Apply a security model that is suitable for your business, bearing in mind the legal and compliance requirements as well as industry best practice.
  11. Create a knowledge base, a place where your team and others can access information relevant to their activities.
  12. Most importantly, review and socialize your strategy with key stakeholders.

Discover Your Opportunities

Data Solutions | Application Development | Automation

GET STARTED TODAY