Database Management: A Fundamental Component of Information Technology

Database Management is a fundamental component of information technology, it is closely interwoven with the principles and history of computing, major hardware components, programming languages, application software, database concepts, and network architecture and security (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). Database Management is a critical aspect of information technology that involves organizing, managing, and retrieving structured data efficiently. It connects to the core concepts of data storage, retrieval, and manipulation, which are fundamental in the realm of IT and computer science.

The evolution of database management is closely tied to the history of computers. The means by which computers operate, including storage devices, processors, and memory, directly influence database performance and efficiency (Sumathi & Esakkirajan, 2010). Initially, data was stored in simple file systems, but with the growth of computing power, relational database management systems (RDBMS) emerged, revolutionizing data storage and retrieval. The chronological order of the development of DBMS is: Flat files (1960’s-80’s), Hierarchical (1970’s-90’s), Network, Relational (1980’s-present), Object orientated (1990’s-present), Object relational (1990’s-present), data warehousing (1980’s-present), and web-enabled (1990’s-present) (Sumathi & Esakkirajan, 2010).

Database management is made up on 5 major components: data, hardware, software, procedure and users (Sumathi & Esakkirajan, 2010). Data for database management is compiled of integrated data, shared data, and persistent data. The procedures are the rules “that govern the design and the use of the database” (Sumathi & Esakkirajan, 2010). And the users are the people interacting with the database, which typical includes the; administrator, designer, manager, programmer, and end-user.

Database Management heavily relies on hardware components such as hard drives, solid-state drives, RAM, and processors. It also relies on storage systems and their performance directly impact database speed and efficiency. Optimizing database operations requires an understanding of these hardware components and their functions. And while database management relies on hardware components, it is flexible and able to adapt to the specifics of a system (Pop & Chichernea, 2013).

Database Management is closely tied to application software. Many software applications interact with databases to store, retrieve, and modify data. Applications need efficient database management to ensure smooth operation and responsiveness, making database management an integral part of application development. Understanding the basic concepts of databases, such as tables, relationships, normalization, and indexing, is fundamental in database management. Database administrators use these concepts to design efficient databases, optimize performance, and ensure data integrity.

Databases are created, accessed, and managed using specific programming languages and techniques. Structured Query Language (SQL) is the standard language for interacting with databases, but it is not the only one. Database administrators should learn and understand: Python, C suite, R, and PHP, on top of SQL (Okeke et al., 2023). It is important to know what programming language you should use, understanding how to design and optimize queries is crucial for efficient database management (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019).

Databases are often distributed and accessed over networks. Understanding network architecture, including protocols and configurations, is essential for effective database management. Moreover, ensuring security in network communications and protecting data against unauthorized access is a critical aspect of database management and information technology as a whole. Currently a lot of business models are switching to cloud storage based databases for security and ease of access from anywhere (Pop & Chichernea, 2013).

One question I had proposed when I initially researched this topic was: how does emerging technologies and methodologies in database management address the evolving needs of handling massive volumes of data, ensuring both efficiency and data integrity? At a quick glance, we can see how database management has changed with the times and need for massive volumes of data when we look at the evolution of database management. Database management needed to expand and change when there was no system in place to handle large amount of information from things such as the Apollo moon landing (Sumathi & Esakkirajan, 2010). And in the span of 10-20 year increments, database management was constantly changing and upgrading to meet the user’s needs. Compared to the 1960’s when there was an initial need for large data systems, we have the technology now to go above and beyond what is needed. We have created database management systems that are adaptable, efficient and safe.

In conclusion, Database Management is a crucial pillar of information technology and computer science, intertwining with various foundational concepts, hardware components, programming languages, application software, and network principles. It plays a pivotal role in organizing and managing data efficiently, making it accessible and secure for a wide range of applications and users.

 

References:

Okeke, F., Staff, T., Crouse, M., Poremba, S., Clarke, M., & Azhar, A. (2023, July 21). 5 programming languages database administrators should learn. TechRepublic. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/5-best-programming-languages-for-database-administrators-to-learn/

Pop, D., & Chichernea, V. (2013). Database dynamic management platform (DBDMS) in Operative Software Systems. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/database-dynamic-management-platform-dbdms/docview/1477205951/se-2

Sumathi, S., & Esakkirajan, S. (2010). Fundamentals of Relational Database Management Systems. Springer.

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks.