5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Database

August 1, 2016 by Lore Marketing Team

How long has it been since you last upgraded your database? If it has been several months, you are due for one. Don’t think you need an upgrade? Think again! Outdated databases are vulnerable databases. You have likely heard of database breaches such as Anthem’s breach, in which 80,000 people’s confidential information was released, or the Voter Database in which 191 million personal identities were stolen. Not only did those breaches affect the organizations, but also all of the people who were involved in the breach.

Hackers are not the only threats to your organization, either. Missed opportunities for enhanced features, lack of technical support, incompatibility with software and hardware, and many other disadvantages come along with using an obsolete version of a database. Since these disadvantages may not be enough to convince you of the necessity of upgrading databases,

the following are five reasons your organization can benefit from upgrading your database software, such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL.

1. Security Fixes

According to research, databases are one of the most vulnerable to cyberattacks. Usually, this is because they are the easiest to get into through networks. Organizations fail to upgrade their databases as regularly as they do other systems, which leaves a wide opening for hackers to enter and reveal or steal information. According to Mike Dietrich of Oracle, “The news is full of reports [about] hacked and cracked systems. It is essential to have the most current security fixes.” Since most upgrades for databases come with the latest security protection, the only way to protect data is to ensure your database is updated regularly.

It is important to know that with most manufacturers, regular database upgrades are only available during the premier support period. Beyond this period, extended support must be paid to continue with the upgrades. The only way around this is to have a professional IT company take over the support to upgrade the database as needed.

2. Enhanced Features

Most upgraded databases include enhanced and additional features. For instance, when Oracle upgraded to a 12g version, many users were happy with the improved productivity the features provided. Lynn Tapp, Senior Oracle Instructor at New Horizon University, pointed out the new version allowed pluggable databases. This offers multitenant architecture, which makes organizing categories and individual entries much easier and quicker. Being able to organize databases much more readily means being able to find information easier, which increased productivity.

3. Resolved Bugs and Other Issues

Outdated databases can be difficult to troubleshoot, as technicians often move forward with the newest versions as soon as they are released. Upgrading a database means that bugs, internal errors, and other technical issues can be identified and resolved as soon as possible, thereby reducing downtime.

Executives know database technical issues can slow down productivity. Another benefit of upgrading a database is any issues identified by users in later versions are corrected, which means you do not deal with them when/if they arise. An example of this is when Microsoft corrected a bug in its SQL that would disconnect the server whenever a user ran a cube creation. Those who upgraded their SQL were able to run cube creation without interruption.

4. Reduced Costs

Sometimes, upgrades come with features that save organizations money. Oracle’s upgrade to 11g reduced storage costs by making a smaller storage footprint. It improved storage efficiency 6-15 times more than previous versions. Usually, an upgraded database can take on more storage and operations than it did in previous versions, possibly replacing other software and hardware, thereby reducing costs for organizations.

The Oracle 11g upgrade also was able to reduce the complexity of the database. This sped up operations greatly, which then reduced operating costs. The hardware and software associated with the database were optimized as well, which enabled users to do more in less time, which reduced employee costs.

5. How to Upgrade a Database

Only an experienced IT professional should upgrade a database. It can be complex, and potential data loss can be catastrophic to an organization. Since turning to the manufacturer of the database can be an overwhelming expense to organizations, Lore Systems offers database upgrading services. With our team of IT specialists, your databases will be regularly upgraded to include the latest security and bug fixes as well as enhanced features, so you can reduce operating costs.

Contact us today to learn more about our database upgrading services.