Discussion of Phases of the Creation of Database

The creation of a reliable database includes six phases: database initial study, database design, implementation and loading, testing and evaluation, operation, and maintenance and evolution. The adequate implementation of each phase determines the overall effectiveness of the database.

The first step is the initial study which involves the analysis of goals of the database, its essence and expected operations. At this phase, there is a risk of the inaccurate identification of possible risks to the database and the failure to define needs of the database accurately. The next phase is the database design which includes the creation of the plan of the database construction and development of specific solutions to implement the plan of the database construction. The implementation and loading phase includes the practical implementation of the plan and loading data to the database. Challenges that emerge at this phase include the possible failure of matching the planned timeline as well as possible information breaches in the course of the data loading as well as technical issues that may interfere into loading process and data storage that may be prevented through accurate planning and enhancement of database security. Testing and evaluation involves risks of revelation of substantial problems in the database which have to be repaired to make the database functional. At the operation phase, the database has to operate and be fully functional. The database may face a risk of information breaches and malfunctioning which are prevented through the enhancement of security and regular updates of the database. Finally, the maintenance and evaluation phase faces the risk of inaccurate assessment of the performance of the database, but the involvement of the external auditor may resolve this problem.

Common sources of database failures are external threats, such as hacker attack that leads to the theft of information from the database, and internal failures that emerge from the design of the database and software used, such as the system shutdown because of the software failure. To prevent such failures the database need the reliable information security system and outsourcing reliable software.

References:

Hastie, T., Tibshirani, R., and Friedman, J (2001). The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining, Inference, and Prediction, New York: Springer.