Essay 3: How much can I expect to get from a single application?

Blog Summary:

SvalTech, Inc. Essay Series

by Jack Olson

March, 2011

Summary of Essay 3:   How much can I expect to get from a single application?

Database Archiving returns value along three components: performance improvements, cost reduction and improved data governance.   The potential value that can be realized can vary significantly from one application to another.   The value actually realized is affected by how the application is implemented.

The primary factors that determine the potential value are:

               - type of application (operational or retired)

               - amount of data

               - required retention period

               - percentage of retention period time that the data is inactive

               - importance of preserving and protecting the data

               - resources required to keep inactive data in operational environment

For operational applications, the ideal application is one with very large amounts of data , high transaction rates of new data coming in, long retention periods, high percentage of inactive data and high importance to the business.  For retired applications, the ideal application benefits from long retention times and expensive resources that could be reclaimed or redeployed to other needs.   

The primary factors that determine whether the potential value is actually achieved are:

               - qualified staff

               - appropriate software and services

               - ability to achieve independence from operational environment

Failure to properly design an effective archiving solution for an application can cause all of the potential to be unrealized or, even worse, have a negative return.

The potential value of an application can be millions of dollars per year for a single application.  A large IT shop can have dozens of applications whose cost reductions exceed $1M per year.    Operational performance improvements can be dramatic with up to 80% of the data removed.   Reduction of recovery or disaster recovery times can be worth millions of dollars.

A good estimate of each the value components can usually be made. 

To see the full essay, go to www.svaltech.com/essays

How Should Database Archiving be Priporitized?

SvalTech, Inc. Essay Series

by Jack Olson

January, 2011

Summary of Essay 2:   What is the Right Priority for Database Archiving Within IT?

Database Archiving does not get assigned a high priority within IT shop planning processes.   It generally does not make the top ten; it’s usually not even on the list.   So how does a Data Management manager get it considered?

Database Archiving is not an end-function; it is a supporting function.  It needs to be approached from the point of view of an enabling technology; part of the data management infrastructure.

Database Archiving should not be advanced as an IT objective and fight its way onto the priority list.  Rather, it should be advanced as a supporting technology that will aid in accomplishing the goals of those major issues that are on the list.

The following items are generally found high on IT priority lists:

               -  Keep costs down, reduce costs where possible

               -  Support mobile computing on major applications

               -  Improve data security

               -  Use cloud computing more

               -  Retire older applications replacing them with more modern ones

               -  Reduce dependence on legacy systems

               -  Consolidate applications after mergers and acquisitions

               -  Expand use of Business Analytics

               -  Improve IT Compliance and Data Governance

Database Archiving can provide valuable assistance for each of these in achieving their goals.   It will reduce costs for all such projects, reduce the time to complete, and enhance the data quality and safety of both the operational databases as well as the Archive itself.

To see the full essay, go to www.svaltech.com/essays

Summary of SvalTech Essay 1: Why Should We Look at Database Archiving?

The emergence of Database Archiving as a new foundation function for IT Data Management was on a solid track before the recession hit.   It was stopped in its tracks due to budget and staff cuts.  This is normal for new technologies.  Before the recession we saw that most IT shops were acutely aware of the problems that maintaining lots of inactive data in operational systems causes.  

Solutions implemented before the recession included a mix of  home-grown and vendor solutions.  The results were not encouraging.  Failure to achieve expectations and unexpected problems coming out the implementations were common due to the newness of the technology and inexperience implementing it.   It became apparent that implementation matters: a robust implementation can yield high returns in a short time whereas an incomplete of flawed implementation can be disastrous.

The problems created by not implementing Database Archiving have not gone away, they have only gotten larger.   No alternative solution has risen to displace Database Archiving as a potentially valuable practice.

Technology has improved

During the past three years the technology of Database Archiving has improved.   All of the vendors have improved their offerings.   Independent consultants have emerged to help in planning, organizing, selecting applications, and implementation.   The understanding of what it takes to do a successful implementation has improved. 

Why Consider it Now?

Most IT shops do not consider Database Archiving a priority to tackle with improving budgets.   However, it is a topic that can be ideal for a recovering budget.  It can deploy new dollars more effectively, with a faster return than most others. 

The reasons to consider are:

               - low cost to implement – 1 or 2 dedicated staff members can implement many applications

               - quick time to implement – most first applications can be implemented in a few weeks.

               - quick return on investment – pent-up and growing problems translate to early payback

               - high visibility –  improving operational performance gets everyone’s attention

               - easy to document results – shows value; makes spending precious budget dollars worth it

Rarely does a new technology require so little to get started and return benefits so quickly.  Database Archiving may be the spark that gets your data management function back to improving the professional management of your most precious asset:  your data.

To see the full essay, go to www.svaltech.com/essays