Unit 279: Database Systems and Management

1. Introduction to Databases

• Definition and purpose of databases
• Types of databases
  • Hierarchical
  • Network
  • Relational
  • NoSQL (brief overview)
• Importance of databases in modern information management
• Overview of database applications in different industries

2. Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS)

• Principles of RDBMS
  • Tables, rows, and columns
  • Keys: primary, foreign, candidate
• Relational model concepts
• Normalization
  • Purpose and benefits
  • Normal forms (1NF, 2NF, 3NF)
• Introduction to SQL
  • Role and capabilities
  • Basic SQL syntax overview

3. Database Design Principles

• Database design process
  • Requirements gathering
  • Conceptual design
  • Logical design
  • Physical design
• Entity-Relationship (ER) Modeling
  • Entities, attributes, relationships
  • Cardinality and participation
• Schema design
• Data integrity
  • Entity integrity
  • Referential integrity
• Importance of normalization in design

4. Data Manipulation and Querying

• SQL Data Manipulation Language (DML)
  • SELECT statements
  • INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE operations
• Querying techniques
  • Filtering data with WHERE clause
  • Sorting data with ORDER BY
• Joins
  • INNER JOIN
  • LEFT, RIGHT, FULL OUTER JOIN
  • CROSS JOIN
• Aggregate functions
  • COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX
• Grouping data with GROUP BY and HAVING

5. Database Security and Backup Strategies

• Database security fundamentals
  • Threats and vulnerabilities
  • User authentication and authorization
• Implementing user access controls
• Encryption techniques
  • Data-at-rest
  • Data-in-transit
• Backup strategies
  • Full, incremental, and differential backups
  • Backup scheduling
• Recovery procedures
  • Point-in-time recovery
  • Disaster recovery planning

6. Data Modeling and Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs)

• Principles of data modeling
• Creating ERDs
  • Identifying entities and attributes
  • Defining relationships and cardinalities
• Translating ERDs into relational schemas
• Case study/example design

7. Indexing and Performance Tuning

• Importance of indexing in databases
• Types of indexes
  • B-tree index
  • Hash index
  • Composite index
• Index creation and maintenance
• Query optimization techniques
  • Using EXPLAIN plans
  • Avoiding common pitfalls
• Performance tuning best practices

8. Transactions and Concurrency Control

• Concepts of database transactions
• ACID properties
  • Atomicity
  • Consistency
  • Isolation
  • Durability
• Isolation levels
  • Read uncommitted, Read committed
  • Repeatable read, Serializable
• Concurrency control techniques
  • Locking mechanisms
  • Deadlock detection and resolution

9. Database Administration and Maintenance

• Role and responsibilities of a Database Administrator (DBA)
• Database monitoring
  • Performance metrics
  • Resource usage
• Routine maintenance tasks
  • Backup verification
  • Rebuilding indexes
  • Updating statistics
• Backup and recovery procedures
• Ensuring database availability and health