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Disadvantages of Database

The disadvantages of database management systems (DBMS) can be summarized as follows: 1. They are complex software requiring specialized knowledge and training to design, develop, administer and use properly which can lead to inefficiencies if not implemented correctly. 2. They are large software systems occupying significant hardware resources in terms of processing power, memory and storage space which requires additional hardware investment. 3. Performance may not be as fast as specialized file-based systems for some applications due to their more general purpose design. 4. A single failure can bring all user and application operations to a halt due to centralization of resources, increasing vulnerability. Additional costs include hardware, software, staff training and technical personnel

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3K views

Disadvantages of Database

The disadvantages of database management systems (DBMS) can be summarized as follows: 1. They are complex software requiring specialized knowledge and training to design, develop, administer and use properly which can lead to inefficiencies if not implemented correctly. 2. They are large software systems occupying significant hardware resources in terms of processing power, memory and storage space which requires additional hardware investment. 3. Performance may not be as fast as specialized file-based systems for some applications due to their more general purpose design. 4. A single failure can bring all user and application operations to a halt due to centralization of resources, increasing vulnerability. Additional costs include hardware, software, staff training and technical personnel

Uploaded by

Samrah Qamar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Disadvantages of Database:

Although the database system yields considerable advantages over previous data management
approaches, database systems do carry significant disadvantages. For example:
1. Increased costs.
Database systems require sophisticated hardware and software and highly skilled personnel. The cost of
maintaining the hardware, software, and personnel required to operate and manage a database system
can be substantial. Training, licensing, and regulation compliance costs are often overlooked when
database systems are implemented.
2. Management complexity.
Database systems interface with many different technologies and have a significant impact on a
company’s resources and culture. The changes introduced by the adoption of a database system must be
properly managed to ensure that they help advance the company’s objectives. Given the fact that
database systems hold crucial company data that are accessed from multiple sources, security issues
must be assessed constantly.
3. Maintaining currency.
To maximize the efficiency of the database system, you must keep your system current. Therefore, you
must perform frequent updates and apply the latest patches and security measures to all components.
Because database technology advances rapidly, personnel training costs tend to be significant. Vendor
dependence. Given the heavy investment in technology and personnel training, companies might be
reluctant to change database vendors. As a consequence, vendors are less likely to offer pricing point
advantages to existing customers, and those customers might be limited in their choice of database
system components.
4. Frequent upgrade/replacement cycles.
DBMS vendors frequently upgrade their products by adding new functionality. Such new features often
come bundled in new upgrade versions of the software. Some of these versions require hardware
upgrades. Not only do the upgrades themselves cost money, but it also costs money to train database
users and administrators to properly use and manage the new features.

Disadvantages of DBMS

The disadvantages of the database approach are summarized as follows:

1. Complexity : The provision of the functionality that is expected of a good DBMS makes the DBMS an
extremely complex piece of software. Database designers, developers, database administrators and end-
users must understand this functionality to take full advantage of it. Failure to understand the system
can lead to bad design decisions, which can have serious consequences for an organization.

2. Size : The complexity and breadth of functionality makes the DBMS an extremely large piece of
software, occupying many megabytes of disk space and requiring substantial amounts of memory to run
efficiently.
3. Performance: Typically, a File Based system is written for a specific application, such as invoicing. As
result, performance is generally very good. However, the DBMS is written to be more general, to cater
for many applications rather than just one. The effect is that some applications may not run as fast as
they used to.

4. Higher impact of a failure: The centralization of resources increases the vulnerability of the system.
Since all users and applications rely on the ~vailabi1ity of the DBMS, the failure of any component can
bring operations to a halt.

5. Cost of DBMS: The cost of DBMS varies significantly, depending on the environment and functionality
provided. There is also the recurrent annual maintenance cost.

6. Additional Hardware costs: The disk storage requirements for the DBMS and the database may
necessitate the purchase of additional storage space. Furthermore, to achieve the required performance
it may be necessary to purchase a larger machine, perhaps even a machine dedicated to running the
DBMS. The procurement of additional hardware results in further expenditure.

7. Cost of Conversion: In some situations, the cost oftlle DBMS and extra hardware may be insignificant
compared with the cost of converting existing applications to run on the new DBMS and hardware. This
cost also includes the cost of training staff to use these new systems and possibly the employment of
specialist staff to help with conversion and running of the system. This cost is one of the main reasons
why some organizations feel tied to their current systems and cannot switch to modern database
technology.

Disadvantages of Database Management System (DBMS):

Although there are many advantages but the DBMS may also have some minor disadvantages. These are:

1. Cost of Hardware & Software:

A processor with high speed of data processing and memory of large size is required to run the DBMS
software. It means that you have to upgrade the hardware used for file-based system. Similarly, DBMS
software is also Very costly.

2. Cost of Data Conversion:


When a computer file-based system is replaced with a database system, the data stored into data file
must be converted to database files. It is difficult and time consuming method to convert data of data
files into database. You have to hire DBA (or database designer) and system designer along with
application programmers; Alternatively, you have to take the services of some software houses. So a lot
of money has to be paid for developing database and related software.

3. Cost of Staff Training:

Most DBMSs are often complex systems so the training for users to use the DBMS is required. Training is
required at all levels, including programming, application development, and database administration.
The organization has to pay a lot of amount on the training of staff to run the DBMS.

4. Appointing Technical Staff:

The trained technical persons such as database administrator and application programmers etc are
required to handle the DBMS. You have to pay handsome salaries to these persons. Therefore, the
system cost increases.

5. Database Failures:

In most of the organizations, all data is integrated into a single database. If database is corrupted due to
power failure or it is corrupted on the storage media, then our valuable data may be lost or whole
system stops.

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