Explain the importance of centralized databases


Different organizations have struggled with their management information systems and their membership databases. The main struggle here is the lack of centralized information. Too often, assurance and non-profits keep separate databases for membership, events, sales, and other processes. When at all feasible, these databases should be combined into a single, centralized database.

Advantages of centralized database over other databases

The advantages of centralized database over other databases are explained below −

  • Data integrity − In a centralized database the data integrity is maximized and data redundancy is minimized, as the single storing place of all the data also implies that a given set of data only has one primary record. This leads to the maintaining of data as accurate and as consistent as possible and enhances data reliability.

  • Data Security − Generally bigger data security, as the single data storage location implies only one possible place from which the database can be attacked and sets of data can be stolen or tampered with.

  • Data Preservation − The centralized database is better data preservation when compared to other types of databases due to often-included fault-tolerant setup. It is easy to use by the end-user due to the simplicity of having a single database design.

  • Data portability − Generally, it includes easier data portability and database administration. Centralized database is more cost effective when compared to other types of database systems as labour, power supply and maintenance costs are all minimized. Data stored in the same location is easier to be changed, re-organized, mirrored, or analysed.

All the information can be accessed at the same time from the same location. Updates to any given set of data are immediately received by every end-user.

Advantages of centralized databases

The advantages of centralized databases are as follows −

  • Centralized databases are less complex and hence they are easy to manage.

  • These are cheaper in cost as compared to the distributed systems.

  • Cost of such systems is less than a distributed system

  • Insertion, deletion and updation (CRUD) operations can easily be performed with less complexity.

  • Less chances of redundancy and errors.

  • Faster as compared to the distributed system.

  • More secure as compared to other databases.

Disadvantages of centralized databases

  • Single point of failure. The entire load is only on one system.

  • It is less reliable. In case of failures, its services will be halted (affected).

  • No resource sharing.

  • Such systems are not scalable.

  • Load Sharing is not possible in centralized systems.

  • Limited access to the shared resources. In cases when multiple users want to access the resource, then results might be delayed.

  • Poor network connection can lead to increased database access time.

Updated on: 08-Jul-2021

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