IT teams don't understand their databases

NEWS UK companies are under-utilising database technology because their IT teams lack the necessary skills to bring them up to top speed. Databases across UK companies failed over one third of a set of 44 performance tests, which looked at space management, security, back up, maintenance and operation, and just scraped by in further tests, according to a survey conducted by IT consultancy Cannon Hill. Mike Hannay, database performance team manager with Cannon Hill, said that IT departments were often reluctant to admit that they did not fully understand database operations. While forty per cent of the performance hurdles were passed, Hannay claims this proves that too many companies are willing to settle for poor database performances. "Most companies are happy that their database is up and running, but there is no recognition of the need to get peak performance out of it," he said.