Managed Service Can Be a Lifesaver

Of all the challenges facing IT executives, none is as pressing and consistently problematic as database performance.

Enterprises have always struggled with the performance of critical applications, note analysts at Forrester Consulting. In this age of Big Data, increasing data volumes and velocities complicates this challenge, which makes database performance a continued and leading challenge.

Performance issues may be there because staff members lack appropriate skills or expertise to complete basic tasks — examples include poorly written SQL statements, improper configuration of database layout, and a lack of clear understanding of how to tune a database.

“We found 80 percent of the people we surveyed actually struggled with performance, which is not surprising because database administrators are dealing with very large and more complex systems today than ever before,” says Noel Yuhanna, principal analyst at Forrester Consulting. “The volumes of data have grown into terabytes and petabytes of information, which is definitely a bigger challenge.” Database tuning and optimization often take nearly twice the effort for a large multi-terabyte database than for a smaller one.

Narrowing Down Challenges

In January 2014, Datavail commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate the viability of a managed service approach to database administration. Forrester analysts surveyed executives in mid- to large-sized enterprises that use managed services to augment their in-house database administration. Among survey questions was one asking the executives to describe some of their organization’s most critical challenges.

Yuhanna will share the results in a webinar March 12, hosted by Datavail Chief Executive Officer Mark Perlstein.

Yuhanna says he regularly speaks to people in various industries — retail, manufacturing, telecommunications, and government – about data management, including their database operations. Although there are several challenges these professionals experience, none is a problem as continually as performance is.

Advantages of Managed Service

In addition to reviewing the survey findings, Yuhanna will interview a Fortune 1000 executive about the results his organization achieved after moving to a managed services contract for database administration. Some of these advantages include:

• Improved SLAs
• Consistent 24×7 coverage
• The ability to tap deep expertise in those areas in which in-house staff needed assistance
• Multi-platform expertise
• Improved retention of on-staff DBAs

“Outsourcing database administration is here to stay,” says Yuhanna. “I would recommend all organizations take a look at this. You don’t have to outsource all your databases right away. You can start with a few databases and see what value outsourcing brings, and then expand your portfolio.”

Given the explosion in the variety, velocity and volume of data and databases, Datavail’s Perlstein says, as well as the scarcity of database administration talent, the time is right to consider an alternative approach to managing databases.

How Can This Strategy Work for You?

Which of your most challenging database management issues might a managed services contract solve? How can such a strategy work in your organization? Contact us to find out.