Services
CipherSync
provides many data and database services related to the user’s
applications, systems, good business practices and information
processing requirements. The data services are designed to
optimize date definition, database design, data collection,
retention, reporting, and recovery processes utilizing either the
Entity-Relationship or the Object Model data methodology.
A data
model is a conceptual representation of the data structures that
are required by a database. The data structures include the data
objects, the associations between data objects, and the rules
which govern operations on the objects. As the name implies, the
data model focuses on what data is required and how it should be
organized rather than what operations will be performed on the
data. To use a common analogy, the data model is equivalent to an
architect's building plans.
A data
model is independent of hardware or software constraints. Rather
than try to represent the data as a database would see it, the
data model focuses on representing the data as the user sees it in
the "real world". It serves as a bridge between the concepts that
make up real-world events and processes and the physical
representation of those concepts in a database.
There are
two major methodologies used to create a data model: the
Entity-Relationship (ER) approach and the Object Model. The
CipherSync approach using the Entity-Relationship methodology uses
the following process:
Data
modeling is probably the most labor intensive and time consuming
part of the development process. Why bother especially if you are
pressed for time? A common response by practitioners who write on
the subject is that you should no more build a database without a
model than you should build a house without blueprints.
The goal
of the data model is to make sure that the all data objects
required by the database are completely and accurately
represented. Because the data model uses easily understood
notations and natural language, it can be reviewed and verified as
correct by the end-users.
