Scenario: Your JIRA instance experiences slow performance. As a system administrator, what steps would you take in terms of system configuration and maintenance to address this issue?

Slow performance in JIRA can be caused by various factors including insufficient memory allocation. Increasing the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) heap size can help accommodate more data in memory, potentially improving performance. While optimizing database indexes can enhance database query performance, it may not directly address slow performance caused by memory limitations. Upgrading hardware can provide better processing capabilities but may not be a feasible solution in the short term. Disabling unused or unnecessary JIRA plugins can alleviate resource strain, but it may not directly address memory-related performance issues.