Interview with our Product Owner: Why bother with database archiving – everything’s working fine, isn’t it?

"The data is old, but important.
The software is outdated, but still in use.
The database? Massive. Confusing.
And no one dares to touch it."

That’s how our Product Owner Matthias Scherm describes a typical situation in many companies. Over the past few years, he’s overseen dozens of archiving projects – and knows exactly what happens when companies keep putting it off.

When does a database actually become a problem?

From a technical perspective, a database can cause many challenges that negatively impact day-to-day operations. The most common issues include performance drops, lack of scalability, and limited storage capacity. As databases grow, slow queries and system crashes can occur, significantly affecting a company’s productivity and efficiency.

What are the typical excuses for not taking action?

Admins often respond with charming – and sometimes provocative – excuses when the topic of database archiving comes up. The most common include: “It takes too much time,” “We have backups,” or “Everything is running just fine.” These arguments often mask the long-term benefits of strategic database archiving.

What role does database archiving play in IT strategy?

Database archiving shouldn’t be seen as a tedious task, but as an integral part of a smart IT strategy. Targeted archiving can improve system performance and significantly reduce risk. It’s about proactively managing databases to meet future challenges – such as audits or system migrations – head-on.

How does CHRONOS make database archiving easier?

CHRONOS automates many database archiving processes while ensuring compliance requirements are met. It supports a variety of systems and integrates seamlessly into existing IT infrastructures. This reduces manual effort and minimizes errors.

What happens if companies archive too late?

Organizations that keep postponing archiving often end up with slow systems, high costs, and major difficulties during system migrations or audits. Real-world examples show that delayed archiving can lead to significant operational and financial challenges.

What do companies underestimate the most?

Many underestimate the amount of data, its growth, and the legal requirements that come with managing databases. The long-term costs of inaction are often overlooked as well. Strategic foresight can make all the difference here.

Matthias, be honest: Why does archiving have such a bad reputation?

Archiving has a bad image because, ideally, it runs quietly in the background. No one says thank you when you save storage or decommission an old database. At the same time, the upfront effort feels high – so people keep postponing it. Eventually, the database becomes so large, sluggish, and business-critical that no one wants to touch it anymore.

When is it too late to take care of the data?

The moment the database bursts at the seams – and everyone acts surprised. When simple reports take forever, system costs explode, or updates fail because of data overload. That’s when companies realize: We really should have started earlier…

What does CHRONOS do better than other solutions?

CHRONOS is quick to implement, modular, and audit-proof. We support major systems and automatically distinguish between active and archivable data. Everything is stored securely – audit-compliant, GDPR-compliant, and fully transparent.

What excites you personally about CHRONOS?

For me, it’s fascinating to see how CHRONOS helps customers finally breathe again – both mentally and technically. The relief that comes with efficient database archiving is tangible and reflected in increased performance and flexibility across the entire IT landscape.

Database archiving is more than just a technical necessity – it’s a strategic decision that paves the way for a sustainable and successful future.
With solutions like CHRONOS, companies can fully leverage the benefits and focus on what truly matters: efficient and secure data management.

“Clean up and win – not tomorrow, but today.”

Curious? Book a consultation with Matthias now – all information at www.csp-chronos.com