Ravi Bahethi, President of Terranet, Inc. Discusses CMS Systems and Their Uses
A content management system (CMS) is a system used by an organization to create, manage, and update the digital content used by the organization. A CMS normally is used by multiple users to collaborate in the use of the data managed in the CMS. The features and design of CMS vary widely among applications in different industries.
In this article, Ravi Bahethi, President of Terranet, Inc. discusses the general concepts involved in CMS design and management and the implications of simple versus complicated content management systems.
CMS Basics
The core functions of CMS design relate to the management of digital data, and include indexing, search and retrieval, revisions, and publishing.
Indexing and search functions ideally allow easy access to information stored inside a CMS through general search functions and tagging of data by date, author, and keywords. Revision control inside a CMS allows for modification of stored content after its creation by appropriate users; changes and deletions made to content are also documented and tracked. CMS publishing attributes typically use templates and content formats to allow users to create and publish content inside the CMS for indexing and availability to other users.
Within this general framework, different organizations use other CMS functions depending on their particular needs.
Simple CMS Designs
Many small businesses take advantage of simple CMS options that provide a “plug and play” approach to implementing a CMS inside of a company’s website. Other CMS designs are built up separately from existing systems while keeping simplicity the primary CMS objective. Simple CMS designs are intended to be easy to learn and use, regardless of users’ technical expertise or skill.
There are a wide variety of inexpensive, simple CMS designs that focus on content creation and management through simple text interfaces; there are some open-source software option available as well. Although there is a wide variety of choices, management should be selective in choosing among the large number of CMS options. Any reputable software provide is likely to provide a trial run with their CMS product.
Complex CMS Designs
However, some websites require more than simple CMS structure. If a company’s site needs complex user functions, multiple page types, and portals, a more individually designed CMS is probably necessary. Advanced web functions require more sophisticated technical and programming knowledge, and sites that require high levels of security should use more complex CMS systems that are continuously updated.
Any organization that is likely to need a more complex CMS should consult with a programmer and systems engineer to be sure that their data and publishing needs are met efficiently and securely.
About Ravi Bahethi
Ravi Bahethi is a systems engineer and programmer working in Fortran 77, Fortran 90, C/C++ and SQL on a variety of platforms, including OpenVMS, Tru64 Unix, IRIX, Linux and Windows. He is a competent team leader with a consistent track record and has proven this through his service as the president of Terranet Inc. Mr. Bahethi’s education, experience, and passion for all things technological make him your go-to person for cost-effective, customizable solutions.
