Magomo Faith ND3 DATABASE Assignment 1

[Link] of data loss in databases

Hard Disk Formatting
Formatting of hard drive can cause one to lose the database instantly.
Workers can format a storage drive by accident if they misunderstand system prompts or
error messages.
Reformatting can also occur during system updates and result in data loss and subsequently
damage the database.
While accidentally reformatting, a hard drive can lead to panic when files and documents
can no longer be accessed, you can often recover lost data from hard drive formatting by
running a data recovery software.
Hackers and Insiders
Hacking and data breaches have become significantly more widespread in recent years,
necessitating the implementation of effective cybersecurity measures.
Unauthorized guests on company network can wreak havoc on databases, erasing and
stealing whatever information they want.
When they is enough access to the database system, they can potentially harm entire
network processes.
Workers or other insiders can sometimes steal or compromise data, which is a terrible
reality.
Assigning multiple degrees of authority to employees to prevent insiders from gaining
access to sensitive information.
To minimize the potential for such losses uses if firewalls on the system to keep out
hackers.
Software Corruption
Software corruption is more likely in companies that utilize traditional in-house IT
infrastructures than in companies that employ cloud-based services.
Traditional IT settings have fixed sets of hardware resources that they manually upgrade,
whereas cloud vendors give flexibility and scalability of resources.
When the number of end users in a firm grows, the apps that require the same resources are
distributed even more among the new users, generating issues such as operating system and
application freezing and crashing in the middle of use.
When a computer crashes, the user loses all of their saved data.
Crashing on a regular basis might be particularly damaging if the user is working on
something important.
Power Failures
Power failures can be caused by power outages.
Cables, power supplies, and storage devices could be among the physical components that
are affected.
It has the potential to make data unavailable or cause data loss.
Power outages can significantly disrupt business operations, shutting down software systems
without warning.
Not only can this result in the loss of unsaved data, but it can also lead to the corruption of
existing files due to faulty shutdown procedures.
A badly timed power outage can sometimes render entire applications unusable.
If a computer crashes while writing to the hard disk, it may never start up again.
If power outages or surges occur regularly, a hard drive's lifespan will be significantly
shortened, and it will be more prone to crash.
Human Error
There are still many tasks that must be completed manually.
Unintentionally deleting data or modifying data in a way that prevents the Database
Management from successfully interacting with the database could be done by an employee.
Employees can erase vital files or remove information that is critical to the organization
without even realizing it.
Many other common reasons of data loss, such as hard drive failure, liquid spills, software
corruption, and hard drive formatting, can also be attributed to human mistake.
Virus infection
Cyber-attacks are the most serious threat that a company faces today, so it's critical that the
security solution scans in real time.
Viruses may have the capacity to steal, corrupt, change, or even delete the entire database,
depending on the type of virus.
An email-based assault or phishing that tempts an employee to click on a tainted link is a
common way for a computer to receive a virus.
The virus or malware can then infiltrate the computer system and destroy or steal files using
this link.
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters like tsunami or earthquake have the ability to destroy the entire
infrastructure.
From tornadoes to fire,disasters can happen when you least expect them and have
devastating impacts on your business.
They can destroy your physical databases, your data and even your business entirely.
In such an event, there is absolutely no way to even find, let alone recover, the data.
Disk Failure
Disks can fail owing to power outages, but they can also fail due to physical damage or a
logical failure.
Unless a backup service is done on the disk on a regular basis, a database will be lost.
One of the most common reasons of data loss is disk failure.
The bulk of data losses are caused by hardware failures, with the hard drive being the most
common culprit.
Hard drives are the most vulnerable components of computers; each week, a few thousand
hard drives fail.
Disgruntled Employees
A disgruntled employee could leak vital and secret information to third parties, causing
immeasurable damage to a company.
If the employee has or acquires unauthorized access to systems or apps, he or she can inject
a virus or erase data, causing the company's day-to-day operations to be disrupted.
Counter measures that can be done on the above challenges
The most effective way to prevent business data loss is to back up all of your files and
documents.
Backing up data means that you have at least one additional copy of all important data.
Use of Antivurus softwares
Guard against malware with appropriate anti-virus software.
Keep your anti-virus systems constantly updated and regularly run scans to catch viruses
before they can do any serious damage.
Just in case a malicious program wrecks your data, be sure to make regular system backups
as well.
Often backed up data is the only way to recover lost data from malware or viruses.
Examples of these antivrus softwares are MacFee and Norton Utility.
Cloud storage
Is also an effective means of backing up data as it stores data remotely and is easily
accessed from any device through the Internet.
Cloud storage often has more space than a traditional server and does not pose risks of
crashing.
Partition your disk drive or database clustering
Partitioning a disk drive or creating dattabase clusters means creating separate program and
data zones.
This means that if the program portion of a hard drive crashes, you may be able to recover
the data because it is stored in a separate location.
Control employee access, that is all employees working with company data should be
properly trained about confidentiality or how data can be shared.
It is in the best interest of your company to control who can access different levels of data in
the databases to protect from accidental or intentional data loss.

While software corruption can sometimes be the result of power outages or other
uncontrollable factors, it is important to implement procedures for properly shutting down
software after each and every use.
Be careful when powering down your computer and shut off any programs first.
Use diagnostic programs carefully to ensure they don’t interrupt software processes.
When your employees consistently save documents during editing and follow safe shut
down procedures, they reduce the risk of business data loss from software corruption.
Database encryption
Data is not always encrypted even when it’s on a backup tape.
Invest in a backup system or service that automatically encrypts all backups to ensure that
no matter who gets their hands on your data, they cannot access it.
Have Backup solutions in case of emergences
The best way to protect against these problems is by making regular, automatic system
backups.
Backups are often the only way to recover lost data from a power outage.
Your business should also use surge protectors to help prevent possible damage from power
surges.
Having a generator or backup battery system can also allow you to save or back up business
data during a power outage.
b).Reasons for project failures
Unsupported Project Management Culture
Many organisations that simply do not have Project Management, result in a fundamental
top-down misunderstanding of what Project Management is and the value it brings.
This lead to inexperienced and/or untrained individuals running projects with little
management support and missed opportunities to upskill a team for better project outcomes.
Scope Creep
It is one of the most recurring themes in project failures.
Scope creep – is cited as a common reason for derailing a project.
There are few surprises as to why, with the typical culprits including some of the issues such
as Lack of formality in the scope definition process within the team.
Failure to execute change control once the project is in flight.
Requirements are defined by an intermediary, not the business Individual requirements are
never vetted against the project’s overall objectives in setting up the initiation stage of the
database project.
Do proper requirements gathering and ellicitation throughly to keep track of the scope until
the end of the project.
Lack of Effective Leadership
Leadership across all levels of a project is vital for its success.
Good sponsors are accountable for the change that they are delivering into the business and
they will carefully choose the best team for the gig.
Having a solid grounding in Business As Usual is not enough
Clarity around ownership, context, engagement and decision-making is essential, and if
you’re bringing first-time sponsors into the mix, they need to be backed with a team that
understands project fundamentals.
Too many or unsuitable tools
There are a wide variety of tools to help you manage a project effectively, however, some
tools are not flexible enough or are too complex, and instead of helping you, they slow you
down.
Such as the use of some version control softwares and also some project management and
issue tracking tool for instance the likes of Trello and Redmine.
As a result, time and money is wasted on software that are not on mandatory use.
Time is wasted trying to learn some of these complicated softwares thereby moving off the
scope of the database project.
Unrealistic Expectations
It is as easy for business folks as it is for Analytics and Data Science folks to get caught up
in the euphoria of a project.
Everyone wants a successful outcome, and everyone wants to make a BIG impact.
Sometimes the expectations for the business value impact are beyond what is realistically
achievable.
For the best project always to be conservative, start small, remain focused, and do not set
the bar too high.
No Risk Management
Every project carries a degree of unpredictability and, therefore, risk.
One of the most effective ways to increase a project’s likelihood of success is to reduce the
issues around predictability by employing a risk management strategy from the outset.
Too few projects assess risk adequately and instead treat it as a cursory one-off exercise –
and that’s if they do it at all.
It’s critical that a targeted and relevant (not generic) risk log is established at the beginning
of the project and then maintained on a regular basis once the project is underway.
lack of proper planning
Without basic planning, you run the risk of seeing your project fall behind schedule.
In addition to missing the deadline, you will experience budget overruns, and if your project
doesn’t reach the market on time, the business can miss opportunities, lose customers, and
see sales decline.
It is not necessary to plan your project in great detail, it can actually be counterproductive,
but it is essential to define the key dates for when each stage of the project should be
completed.
Systematically provide room for flexibility in the event of unforeseen events, it is better to
plan longer and finish early than the other way around.
Poor Monitoring & Controls
On time budget is a key ingredient of successfully delivering projects. Surprisingly few
projects are properly baselined and are then subsequently monitored.
If a Project Manager is unable or does not know how to accurately build a schedule, monitor
and report on the actual effort or duration against the planned effort or duration then there is
no effective way to understand what and when corrective actions if required.
And there is no way to report or manage upwards to keep expectations clear.
lack of follow-up
The project manager must follow the completion of his or her project and the execution of
the tasks closely in order to make sure that everything takes place in the best possible
conditions.
If a problem arises, they are therefore able to intervene immediately.
Database project managers must folloup on the following issues as they cause these failures:
-The project is progressing towards the final objective.
-All intermediate objectives have been achieved.
-No task is delayed.
-The budget and deadlines are respected.
-Resources are used correctly and efficiently.
-Do not hesitate to use the various monitoring tools that exist and update them daily.