Trend-Setting Products in Data and Information Management for 2025

Big data is continuing to proliferate at organizations, this time spurred by AI and machine learning within enterprise software tools, followed by advancements in software for managing unstructured data, and the substantial increase in data volume. To help make the process of identifying useful products and services easier, each year, DBTA presents a list of Trend-Setting Products, highlighting a commitment to innovation and to provide organizations with tools to address changing market requirements. Read More

New DBTA Survey Reveals the Rising Costs of Software Audits

Given the criticality of understanding the breadth and depth of software audits, and the consequential costs, this survey, "The Rising Cost of Software Compliance: 2025 Survey on Software Audits," has been conducted by Unisphere Research, a division of Information Today, Inc. to gain a better understanding of the current state of software licensing and audit trends. Read More

The Top Information Management Trends For 2025

Throughout 2024, data managers and professionals were at the locus of the new waves of innovation driven by AI and analytics—and the activity was frenetic and intense. As the year 2025 progresses, this intense and frenetic activity will only continue. Cloud services, AI, AI agents, and cybersecurity are top areas of interest that industry leaders are watching. The following are several prominent trends mentioned that are shaping data management. Read More

What to Expect in AI Data Governance: 2025 Predictions

In 2025, preventing risks from both cybercriminals and AI use will be top mandates for most CIOs. Ransomware, in particular, continues to vex enterprises, and unstructured data is a vast, largely unprotected asset. AI solutions have moved from experimental to mainstream, with all the major tech companies and cloud providers making significant investments in building turnkey generative (GenAI) and AI solutions for enterprise customers. Read More

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Database Elaborations

Todd Schraml

The Beast Known as a Surrogate Key A surrogate is, "One appointed to act in place of another." A surrogate key is appointed to act in place of a natural key. Why? Well, one could argue that surrogate keys existed since the beginning of the computer. As the computer uses internal addresses for finding everything, and in the early days that usage had to be explicitly managed by those programming. It wasn't until relational theory came along that the concept of using data values as identifiers arose and were functionally implemented.

DBA Corner

Craig S. Mullins

Overcoming Database Challenges: Real-World Solutions A day in the life of a DBA (database administrator) can be quite hectic. The DBA is required to maintain production and test environments while at the same time keeping an eye on active application development projects, attending strategy and design meetings, helping to select and evaluate new products, and keeping legacy systems robust and stable, while ensuring access from new systems.

SQL Server Drill Down

Kevin Kline

After 50 Years, What’s Next for SQL? Even after 50 years, Structured Query Language, or SQL, remains the native tongue for those who speak data. It's had impressive staying power since it was first coined the Structured Query English Language in the mid-1970s. It's survived and thrived through the dot-com era and the proliferation of cloud technology. In essence, SQL is a technology that evolves.

Emerging Technologies

Guy Harrison

So Long, and Thanks for All the Tech After more than 2 decades of writing for DBTA, this will be my final column. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to engage with you on databases and emerging technologies. As with all good things, this journey must end, and I want to use this moment to reflect on the changes we've witnessed during the past 20 years and look ahead to the future.

Next-Gen Data Management

Will AI Become Our Friend or Foe? Technology Professionals Weigh In. Picture this: there's a new face in the IT department, ready to step in to help tackle the increasingly complex challenges caused by modern hybrid on-prem and multi-cloud environments. Overstretched technology teams always appreciate an extra set of helping hands, but what happens when this new team member isn't human—but artificial intelligence (AI)?