Oracle, SQL Server, Access, MySQL, DB2, Paradox, Filemaker. There's a vast world of database products on the market today. Which one is best suited for your enterprise? In this three-part series, NEMBOT will walk you through the selection process.

Selecting a database platform for your organization's infrastructure can be an overwhelming project. IT professionals faced with this daunting task may have no prior database experience and are suddenly thrown into an arena full of vaguely familiar terms and a wide range of products with drastically differing price tags. This week, we'll take a look at the needs analysis process.

Database management systems (or DBMSs) can be divided into two categories -- desktop databases and server databases. Generally speaking, desktop databases are oriented toward single-user applications and reside on standard personal computers (hence the term desktop).

Server databases contain mechanisms to ensure the reliability and consistency of data and are geared toward multi-user applications. These databases are designed to run on high-performance servers and carry a correspondingly higher price tag.

It's important to do a careful needs analysis before you dive in and commit to a database solution. You'll often find that a desktop database is suitable for your business requirements when you originally planned to purchase an expensive server-based solution but what ever you think, don't hesitate to contact NEMBOT and we'll guide you. On the other hand, you may uncover hidden requirements -- present or future -- that necessitate the deployment of a scalable server-based database. The needs analysis team should include individuals involved in the design, deployment and support processes as well as a representative sample of end users. When you sit this group of people around a conference table and discuss your proposed solution, you're guaranteed to uncover issues nobody considered in the past. Don't let this be a blow to your ego -- take it in stride and be thankful that it was discovered at this early stage rather than after massive expenditures of time and money.

Working with NEMBOT will relieve you of the following nightmarich questions:

-Who will be providing IT support for the database?

-Who will be responsible for maintaining the data?

-Will data access be offered over the Internet? If so, what level of access should be supported?

But you'll still have to answer these questions yourself even though NEMBOT's specialists could guide you:

-Who will be using the database and what tasks will they perform?

-How often will the data be modified? Who will make these modifications?

-What hardware is available? Is there a budget for purchasing additional hardware?

You may discover that a sophisticated multi-user server platform (like SQL Server or Oracle) is necessary to support your complex requirements. On the other hand, a desktop database like Microsoft Access might be just as capable of meeting your needs (and much gentler on your pocketbook!)