Relationships with databases are surprisingly similar to those between people. If we don’t regularly dedicate time and resources to maintaining and nurturing them, they may not be there when we need them the most. Since it has become increasingly clear to industry executives, C-suites, and other thought leaders that data is the hottest commodity, protecting yours should be a top concern. There is no reason to risk losing your entire database, which could have catastrophic consequences. Let’s examine a few of the risks of failing to perform regular database maintenance.

1. False Conclusions About Productivity

You might have one database, or you might have several. In either case, all data is organized in structures sharing one trait: associated indexes that allow data to be located efficiently. Database indexes need constant updates and adjustments. Without regular maintenance, indexes become fractured, making data retrieval cumbersome and time-consuming. From the outside, it could seem that you need to add staff to your team to complete tasks on time, while the underlying problem is a system running slowly due to unmaintained indexes. False conclusions about productivity levels can have devastating financial impacts.