Brandon Smith
DBM/380
10-8-2012
Kenneth Hoskins
Database Environment
“A database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system. In order for a database to be truly functional, it must not only store large amounts of record, but also be able to access those records fast and efficiently. In addition, new information and changes should also be easy to input.” (tech-faq.com) To be useful over a long term the database should be able to store all the records necessary for the business to function as well as be able to get all of this information back in case of a system failure or a crash. If all the information is loss a business could go bankrupt so the database is a fail safe for all the information the company has.
In the case of an Art Museum that tracks all of its artwork, artists, and locations where all their art is displayed or stored within the museum they would defiantly need a database with a failsafe to store all their information. If the Museum for any reason was every hacked and all their information was deleted or corrupted they would need to know where all their art was without having to physically go through every building and relocate each art piece. This is the same with their artist information (phone number, amount owed to the artist, painting the artist gave to the museum, ect). Without the database all of this information could be easily lost or misplaced if it was all stored on a piece of paper like in the older days. Or if the building burnt down they would also lose all this valuable information. When it is stored in a database it can be kept in a separate location and even kept offline to make sure it wasn’t hacked or the information wasn’t manipulated in anyway.
The database architecture a set of specific rules, processes, and specifications that dictate how data is accessed by components of the system and how this data is stored in the database.” (wingenious.com)
References: What is a Database?. (n.d.) The Tech-FAQ Retrieved on 10-7-2012 from http://www.tech-faq.com/what-is-a-database.html Wingenious. (n.d.) Wingenious. Retrieved 10-7-2012 from http://wingenious.com/ Windows Security Retrieved on 10-7-2012 from http://www.windowsecurity.com/whitepapers/An-Overview-of-Common-Database-Architectures.html Exforsys Inc Retrieved on 10-7-2012 from http://www.exforsys.com/tutorials/client-server/n-tier-client-server-architecture.html The Art Encyclopedia retrieved on 10-7-2012 from http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/AZ.html