Unlock the Power of Cloud Computing: 4.54B People Reap Benefits - Research Paper

Introduction

Cloud computing is the use of the internet to store and retrieve data or programs. One can decide to store data and run programs from the hard drive of the personal computer. Likewise, the internet also provides an ample space that a computer user can store and retrieve data using multiple remote servers found on the internet. Approximately 4.54 billion people use the internet all over the world, representing 59% of the total world's population (Yunus et al., 2017). The internet users store, process, and manage data on remote servers hosted on the internet. With cloud computing, the user is assured of the process that is easy, convenient, safe, and secure.

Database Management System (DBMS)

Database refers to a collection of electronic records that can undergo processing to give useful information. Data can be organized, controlled, managed, modified, and accessed for different data-processing operations. Enterprise application databases may involve compliance-focused, security-sensitive, and mission-critical record items with complicated logical association with other datasets. These databases grow proportionately with the increase in the user base (Yunus et al., 2017).

Therefore, the database management system (DBMS) refers to the technology for optimizing and managing data retrieval and storage in the databases. DBMS provides a systematic approach for managing databases using user interfaces and workloads accessed via apps. DBMS management responsibilities involve the database logic structure, database processes, information within databases. DBMS also helps in facilitating certain administrative functions, including monitoring performance, compliance, disaster recovery, and change management (Yunus et al., 2017).

DBMS comprises the following components to facilitate the functions stated above.

Software

DBMS itself is a software interface that enables interaction with and management of databases. The interfacing may also extend to other physical systems contributing to backend databases. The operating system, hardware infrastructure, and networking software are involved in accessing, creating, processing, and managing databases.

Data

DBMS comprises metadata, database records, and operational data that are essential for performing its functions. The data in DBMS include administrative information and index files. DBMS also has a data dictionary for representing data flows, relationships, structure, and ownership to other records (Yunus et al., 2017).

Procedures

Procedures are the instructions for using DBMS. The procedures act as guidelines that assist users in designing, modifying, process, and manage databases.

Database Language

Database language is a DBMS component used to store, access, retrieve, and modify database items, control user access, and specify database schema. Database languages include Data Manipulation Language (DML), Data Definition Language (DDL), Data Control Language (DCL), and Data Access Language (DAL).

Query Processor

The query processor is the intermediary between the DMS data engine and a user that communicates query requests. The functions of the query processor include translating and parsing instruction. It also helps in optimizing queries for quick processing and precise results (Yunus et al., 2017).

Runtime Database Manager

The runtime database manager is a centralized DBMS component that handles runtime data functionality to enable access to the context-based database. It is involved in checking user authorization before requesting the query, processing the approved queries, supporting concurrency to enable multiple users on the same databases, enhance data integrity, and devising optimal query execution strategies.

Database Manager

This component executes DBMS functions within databases. It enhances the execution of various command functions within the database such as backup, creates, deletes, clone, restore, among many other database maintenance tasks. It can also enable the user to update vendor-based patches on a database (Yunus et al., 2017).

Database Engine

The database engine is the chief DBMS component executing core functions such as storing and retrieving data. This component can be accessed through APIs that enable users or applications to perform fundamental tasks, including reading, creating, writing, and deleting records in databases.

Reporting

DBMS contains files with the information required by users. The report generator extracts the relevant file from DBMS containing the required information and displays it in a predetermined structured format. The reported information can be used for decision-making, business analysis, or business intelligence (Yunus et al., 2017).

Benefits of DBMS

DBMS helps in solving core problems related to accessing, storing, securing, and auditing files. The DBMS has contributed to significant improvements in traditional file systems with considerable benefits as follows:

Data Security

DBMS enables enforcement of policies that foster data security and compliance. It avails relevant data to authorized users only thereby, preventing possible theft of data.

Data Sharing

DBMS enables users and applications to share data in the database very quickly and efficiently. It enhances collaboration between users and promotes the timely delivery of data.

Data Integration

DBMS enables efficient management and integration of physical and logical relationships of databases using just a single interface (Yunus et al., 2017).

Data Access and Auditing

DBMS controls how users access data in the database. It enables logging that helps organizations conduct an audit to enhance compliance and data security.

Independence and Abstraction

DBMS has made it easy and more convenient to change the physical schema of the database system without having to introduce any changes to the logical schema. Therefore, organizations can use DBMS for scaling up infrastructure or upgrading storage without necessarily affecting operations of the database. In the same way, changes in a logical schema can also be done without affecting services and applications that access the databases (Yunus et al., 2017).

Uniform Administration and Management

DBMS provides a single console interface with a significant capacity to execute the fundamental administrative and management tasks to enhance convenience for IT users and database administrators.

Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW)

The Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) refers to a corporate repository used for storing and managing all historical data of a business undertaken by a given enterprise. EDW consists of data from various systems such as physical records, CRMs, and ERPs. The data from multiple systems is put in only one storage facility from where various units of the business can access it and analyze it for their benefit. EDW enables an organization to manage a large number of data sets without having to have multiple databases (Rahman, 2017) necessarily.

By consolidating data from multiple sources, EDW enables access of the right information to the right people for making right and timely decisions. For this reason, EDW has played a significant role in modern enterprise decision support systems. In every competent for-profit organization, EDW is considered a key component necessary for the success of that organization. EDW avails such important information as stock levels, customers, partners, production, products, suppliers, sales, and staff all combined within a single database warehouse to provide a holistic view of the organization's performance (Rahman, 2017).

Major Attributes of Enterprise Data Warehouse

The following attributes can help distinguish the enterprise data warehouse from the ordinary warehouse.

It has a single version, and the design is for the definitive representation of the organizational business data. The enterprise data warehouse is designed to accommodate big datasets from multiple sources and allows for data access and retrieval for good decision-making (Rahman, 2017).

The second definitive attribute is that EDW must have numerous subject areas. EDW should accommodate all subject areas associated with the operations of an organization, such as human resources, finance, sales, and marketing.

EDW must have a normalized design. The normalized design is suitable for organizational systems because it allows for flexibility and effective performance.

The fourth definitive attribute of EDW is that it must be implemented as a mission-critical environment. The EDW must be treated with the utmost care because any failure incurred may cause a critical effect on business operations and lead to loss of revenue and income (Rahman, 2017).

It should be scalable across numerous dimensions. EDW should allow for considerable growth in the organization to enhance effective expansion for various business operations in an organization.

Advantages of Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW)

Enterprise Data Warehouse provides extra support for data, including tracking, managing, and analyzing information to enable the right people to access the right resources on time for decision-making.

EDW fosters company growth. The data analytics component of EDW facilitates more precise and suitable decision-making support that, in turn, promotes growth in an enterprise.

EDW allows users to access, store, and retrieve big data from various sources. The presence of ample space enables the enterprise to store as much enterprise data as required.

By use of EDW, an enterprise can easily track or modify market campaigns. This helps in determining how effective the campaign was conducted (Rahman, 2017).

EDW provides a convenient means of refining data to avoid redundancy of information and improve the overall quality of enterprise data.

EDW gives users an efficient capacity to analyze data within the same platform. By so doing, it keeps the unnecessary data manipulation at bay. In addition to that, this capability enables it to enhance data integrity and enable decision-making using more accurate data as possible.

In the long run, EDW boosts the organization's cost-effectiveness and ROI. The EDW helps solve problems associated with costs for analytics, thereby, increasing the return on investment of the company in the long run (Rahman, 2017).

Electronic Records Management (ERM)

Electronic records management (ERM) refers to various activities involved in creating, distributing, using, maintaining, and disposing of recorded information about the transactions and activities of the business. ERM captures business records as a way of maintaining the digital business process. The process is accomplished digitally without having papers and files piling up in company storerooms. ERM promotes the automation of various business activities and transactions. It enables faster execution of business activities providing precise auditing and reliable application of business record schedules (An et al., 2017).

ERM is essential for proper information governance and digital transformation strategies. ERM has the capacity to make the enterprise achieve great gains. Electronic management of records enhances faster and efficient identification of records, categorization, and easier retrieval of metadata. Apart from that, ERM has a significant ability to arrange files in an orderly manner and prevent cases of duplication of files. It enables the user of information to access and store relevant information quickly without having to disturb other files in the database. This is a great benefit of ERM against the traditional records management system (An et al., 2017).

Benefits of Electronic Records Management

Reliable Backups

ERM has enabled users to easily back up vit...