How Is a File Processing Approach Different from the Database Approach? In a file processing system, each department or area within an organization has its own set of data fi les. The records in one fi le may not relate to the records in any other fi le. Two major weaknesses of fi le processing systems are redundant data (duplicated data) and isolated data. With a database approach, many programs and users share the data in a database. The database approach reduces data redundancy, improves data integrity, shares data, permits easier access, and reduces development time. A database, however, can be more complex than a file processing system, requiring special training and more computer memory, storage, and processing power than file processing systems. Data in a database also can be more vulnerable than data in file processing systems.