Learn how to – How To Upgrade Your Cloud Database System for Your Business

Learn how to – How To Upgrade Your Cloud Database System for Your Business.

Many businesses today utilize databases to manage information necessary for their operations to run efficiently. As more information is accumulated, businesses migrate their databases to the cloud.

Despite the benefits, database migration has its challenges, including the need to upgrade the cloud database.

When databases are not upgraded for a long time, errors and technical issues may occur. Cloud databases are no different. If left unresolved, these issues may cause downtime and slow down business operations.

Additionally, unupgraded databases may be exposed to security flaws that attackers may exploit. This issue increases the risk of data breach and may compromise the business.

By upgrading your database, you reduce the risks of errors and data breaches. Other benefits include faster and more efficient data access.

Businesses with large databases serving a high number of users may benefit from an upgraded cloud database.

Such businesses include multinational corporations, online gaming companies like casinos and sportsbooks, and even social networking sites.

When coupled with secure routers or WiFi access points, a cloud database may become a business asset instrumental to increasing productivity and achieving corporate goals.

Tips in Upgrading Your Database

Treat the database upgrade like a new software installment. The prerequisites and processes in a new installation may also apply to upgrades:

• Plan your resources
• Reconsider system parameters
• Ensure that all supporting software is adequately connected

However, unlike a new installation, an upgrade has one vital issue to consider: existing applications and users.

An upgrade should not disrupt users from using existing applications. Also, existing software must be checked and verified if compatible with those in the new database version.

Here are some suggestions and tips to make your database upgrade more efficient and less problematic.

Make an Inventory of Your Server

  The first step in upgrading your database is to make an inventory. Know everything about your server.

List down all applications installed in your cloud database server. You may also need to back up your database in case an issue occurs during the upgrade.

Ensure that you have a list of all the information and details. Take note of all the essential information about your database, including what files and documents are in which drive and specific installation instructions.

Map All Applications to Database

  Mapping all applications is vital in helping you identify application owners and testers.

Reach out to these people and see if there are added applications or changes you may not have known or missed.

They should send you back updates to your list to complete your spreadsheet containing all information about your database.

Identify Your Upgrade Team

Meet all the people helping you with the upgrade. Ensure that all efforts of the team members are well coordinated.

Proper coordination will ensure that all tasks and procedures are effectively and efficiently done. It will save everybody the strain of extended work hours.

IT administrators may spend hours rebuilding schemas, cleaning data, and repairing errors in the data. This exhaustive effort may cause them to stare too long at their screens. In cases like this, alternative treatments to alleviate eye strain may help.

 Some of the people you may need to coordinate for the upgrade include:

• Database administrator (DBA): Installs, configures, and manages the database server. DBAs perform database backup and restoration, login and access rights configuration, and linked server setup.

Other responsibilities of a DBA include database security, performance monitoring, and troubleshooting.

• Person in charge of networking: Installs the operating system, network patches, and sets up the drives.
• The developer: Usually, they are the initial tester of cloud database system applications.
• The application tester: This person represents the database system’s end-user. 

The application tester checks out the applications to be used by the business to ensure the system functions according to the business’ expectations.

Companies with a quality assurance (QA) team may have someone from the department fill this role.

Plan and Communicate

• Discuss with the team and set a timeline to complete the upgrade works. The discussion may include the time and date for completion and job responsibilities for each member.
• Communicate and discuss the full range of applications that may be affected in the planned and coordinated upgrade to all stakeholders.
• Agree on setting up a developmental or test environment and how you may want that environment to look like or function.

During the upgrade period, end-users may work on the developmental environment. If the users choose to do so, they must understand the possible implications, like the possibility of errors or data loss.

• Provide a list of contacts to reach when issues arise.
• Communicate the status of the upgrade activity.
• Consider performing a test run before and after each upgrade. If any problems occur during the upgrade, you may easily roll back the changes. Actual business data will not be affected.
• Make sure to document all the tests and their results. All documentations should be countersigned.

The Upgrading Process

Your cloud database upgrade plan should be comprised of three sections:

• Pre-Upgrade Preparations: These include backups of all files and documents that you can do in advance. 
• Upgrading: This section contains all the tasks to be performed on the upgrade day. These tasks include troubleshooting and testing procedures.
• Rollback Plan: This plan provides measures to restore the previous database version if the upgrade did not go as planned.

Conclusion

Cloud database upgrades may be a thorough but necessary job to keep the database running in good working order. With proper planning and execution, the upgrade may save time and resources for your company.

For additional help and consultation on how to upgrade a cloud database system, consult an IT expert or database administrator.

Author’s Bio

As an experienced business consultant, Arnold Rogers has advised businesses across many industries in areas of lead generation, customer experience, service development and small business cash flow and financial management. He has experience in handling diverse industries, from fast-moving consumer goods to business-to-business hardware retailers.