| Building Better Security | | | | data into an object-oriented software design (which |
| Fun Fact: In 2009 there were slightly over 5500 bank | | | | helps you interpret the data) and so it is important to |
| robberies in the US. Who would have guessed that | | | | find a developer who is experienced in both fields. |
| so many people still robbed banks? Didn't that mostly | | | | Although no system is invincible against attack or |
| end with stage-coach hijackings and Tommy guns? | | | | damage, properly designed and built data systems |
| Most surprisingly though is this is a 20% reduction | | | | provide huge protections against data loss and data |
| from the year before. Add onto this the recent high | | | | theft. |
| profile art thefts, and the thefts of other secure | | | | Data Gathering Software |
| assets and we begin to see how insecure some of | | | | Data gathering falls under the category of Data |
| our assets may be. | | | | Neglect. Not only is it important to use and protect |
| As businesses we have our own secure assets. Of | | | | the data that you have, but you may also benefit by |
| course money is included, but so are intangible assets | | | | optimizing the systems that you have for collecting |
| such as trade secrets, competitive intelligence, and all | | | | the data in the first place. This ensures that you are |
| sorts of consumer and business data. While bank | | | | effectively capturing the data that you need, and |
| accounts and physical assets may be insured, it is | | | | that you are capturing the data that you want. |
| hard to put a price on the intangible assets that | | | | There are plenty of ways to gather data. The main |
| make a business so successful. | | | | focus here is on XML-type data exchanges between |
| Information allows us to make informed decisions, | | | | systems. This means a software system that can |
| outperform our competition, and better reach our | | | | gather information as it is processed through another |
| target audiences. As a result, data and information | | | | system. |
| security is becoming increasingly vital to businesses of | | | | For example, a supermarket might have an automatic |
| all sizes and in all industries. In 2009, the 5500 bank | | | | checkout system. This checkout system scans the |
| robberies only accounted for about $30 million in | | | | barcode of each item and displays its price. |
| losses. By comparison, known thefts of data and | | | | Integrating a data gathering system into it would |
| digital property (not including copyrighted materials | | | | allow you to track which items are sold (for |
| such as music and movies) exceeded over $1 trillion | | | | inventory tracking), when they are sold, how long it |
| last year. | | | | takes to sell them, who buys them, what items are |
| Some of these data thefts have been well targeted | | | | frequently purchased together, and so on. This lets |
| attacks against very well equipped and well managed | | | | you make smarter decisions about how you place, |
| data security systems. Others have been due to | | | | price and purchase your inventory, and how you |
| individuals blatantly breaking security policies, or the | | | | manage your employees. |
| digital equivalent of leaving the bank vault open, | | | | Data gathering systems can work in any number of |
| doors unlocked and carrying all the money out to the | | | | ways, and can be subject to rules or regulations. |
| curb. | | | | Data systems can track everything from machine |
| Although data theft is one "worst case" scenario, it is | | | | use to the time people spend on your website. |
| actually only one of three major factors that can | | | | These systems are frequently custom-built and |
| reduce the value of data, and threaten a company: | | | | specifically tailored to an organization to provide a |
| 1. Data Theft | | | | competitive benefit over out-of-the-box analysis |
| The loss of data to a third party who will use it for | | | | systems. |
| your detriment, or for its own benefit | | | | Data Analysis |
| 1. Data Loss | | | | SQL systems help store data in a way that provides |
| The loss of data or information due to failing or | | | | easy access, security, and reliability. However, it does |
| faulty systems, such as a hard drive crash, database | | | | not provide data analytics and information processing |
| error, or system malfunction | | | | outside of helping you sort through your own |
| 1. Data Neglect | | | | database. |
| Failing to use your data to its full potential. This could | | | | Analytical processing, and more recently, online |
| be from inadequate or antiquated analysis systems, | | | | analytical processing (known as OLAP), is a quick |
| or just collecting the wrong kinds of information | | | | way to sort through vast arrays of complex data. It |
| Fortunately there are many things that can be done | | | | is commonly used in reporting analytics in marketing, |
| which can protect a business against any of these | | | | sales, management, financials, budgeting and |
| scenarios. | | | | forecasting. The benefit of OLAP is that it allows for |
| Data Policies | | | | rapid execution of complex analytical and ad-hoc |
| Crafting an internal data protection policy is one of | | | | queries. It puts the power of data in the hands of |
| the most important steps to protecting critical | | | | the business user. In other words, OLAP systems |
| information. While properly secured networks are also | | | | can analyze historical data and get answers to many |
| important, these networks are most often | | | | questions without users having to ask IT |
| unintentionally compromised by employees who are | | | | departments to help produce reports. |
| unaware of proper security practices or who | | | | Many people are surprised to find that an OLAP |
| underestimate the risks. | | | | system can replace an overgrown Excel application |
| A strong and enforced data security policy can help | | | | and create a much easier, more efficient way to |
| deflect a large portion of security threats. An | | | | access and analyze data. OLAP applications are also |
| experienced consultant can help evaluate policies and | | | | much more secure than Excel applications, can |
| practices that include everything from Internet use | | | | automate the analytic process, and can be easily |
| policies, to ensuring that data storage hardware | | | | expanded as your business grows. |
| systems are kept in a properly (physically) secured | | | | Finding the Right Solution |
| location and free from direct sunlight and excessive | | | | Finding the right data storage solution depends on |
| heat. | | | | your company, as each system should be tailored to |
| Data Storage Systems | | | | fit your needs and goals. A good place to start may |
| Data storage comes in many shapes and sizes and | | | | be a qualified data storage expert, or data storage |
| should fit your business, but also provide plenty of | | | | consultant that can help you understand the options, |
| room to grow and expand. Most databases are | | | | costs and benefits. |
| relational databases, which organizes data based on | | | | Find someone you can trust that can give you advice |
| characteristics of that data. For example, an | | | | on what your business needs and what will help you |
| employee's information could be stored by his or her | | | | grow in the future. An experienced consultant will |
| name, hire date, salary, etc. This is the main storage | | | | help look at your business goals and long-term |
| method for SQL, a database computer language | | | | objectives and help you understand the various |
| designed for managing data in relational database | | | | options and alternatives. The most valuable element |
| management systems (RDBMS). | | | | of data management is understanding what you |
| SQL relational data storage is the most common | | | | have. This will help you protect it, secure it, and use |
| method of storing data for business systems. It | | | | it to its full potential. |
| features high performance data retrieval and | | | | Of course, at Amadeus Consulting we offer |
| reporting and is good for storing large amounts of | | | | consulting and evaluation, as well as custom built data |
| data as well as providing tools to maintain data | | | | solutions, and are a Microsoft® Gold Certified Data |
| integrity. | | | | Management and Business Intelligence Solutions |
| However, SQL Server data storage is only as good | | | | partner. We would be happy to work with you to |
| as the logical and physical database design - all of the | | | | build a data storage solution that helps you get the |
| advantages of relational databases can be negated | | | | most out of your business data. |
| by a bad design. It can be difficult to map relational | | | | |