The cornerstone of any data management system is secure storage of information. SQL databases provide a powerful and robust storage mechanism. Years of evolution have honed the modern versions of these systems into something that can perform as well as a sleek modern formula one car, but also double up as desert tank division.
The key concerns of data management systems are typically as follows:
Security: Data must only be accessible to the right people. Control of data access should be straight forward and in the hands of the local administrator.
Accessibility: Data must be available to people in wide ranging formats and geographies.
Scalability: Data systems should built as cheaply as possible, but should be able to cope with the demands of an increasing volume of business activity and the businesses they were made for expand.
Maintainability: Data systems should be able to adapt to changes in business practice without incurring excessive costs. Therefore data systems should be built with a clear understanding of what objects are the most changeable and which are the most static.
Extensibility: Data systems should be extendable.
Integrity and reliability: Data should be acurate, verifiable, consistent, and auditable.
Self-monitoring and self-verifying: Data systems should monitor themselves, and verify their own procedures.
JIT, JE, JFM: Just-In-Time, Just-Enough and Just-For-Me.