To DBA or not to DBA?

Who is a DBA? Many people who are interested in IT careers often talk about becoming a DBA. But while the interest in DBAs is quite high many who want to become DBAs don't have a clue about a DBA does. For most, it is simply a bad case of "joining the bandwagon". Let's take a look at what a DBA does.

What is a DBA? What does a DBA do? The term, DBA refers to the Database Administrator. A database is a collection of information that's related to a particular function or purpose. In its simplest form, your contact information kept in a file on your system is a database. We will not dwell much on databases here but, it is important to note that a key requirement of modern IT infrastructure is secure and timely access to and storage of vital data. The most reliable, time-tested method of storing electronic data is inside a database. Oracle, Microsoft, IBM and Sybase are manufacturers of popular Database Management System (DBMS) products.

So what does a DBA do? The role of the database administrator is very important in an organization. The role a database administrator plays can be quite complex, but we will identify the core functions.

Database Implementation and Design

A critical duty of the DBA is designing databases for maximal performance, scalability, flexibility, and reliability. Furthermore, the DBA is responsible for installing new DBMS and upgrading existing DBMS. The DBA must be conversant with installation and upgrade issues, i.e. problems, requirements, etc.

Performance Monitoring and Tuning

A DBA must make sure databases are fast and responsive. A slow database is indicative of poor system performance -something is wrong somewhere. The DBA monitors the state of the database for optimal performance and the error log or event log is also monitored for database errors. It is essential to monitor the state of the database and tune accordingly.

Availability, Backup and Recovery

To many in the IT industry, the most important job of the DBA is that of availability, backup and recovery of data. Because of the value placed on electronic data, the database must be protected from all forms of failure -hardware, software, and human. A DBA maintains the information an organization needs to be successful.

Data must be available to all who need it when they need it. If data is not available, the business stops functioning. Imagine the impact this will have on a bank that can't have access to customers' balances. A DBA must be equipped to eliminate and reduce outages -planned and unplanned. Since not all failure can be predicted, the DBA needs to implement recovery procedures that will reduce downtime associated with the failure.

User and Data Security

The DBA is responsible for assigning users to databases and determining the proper security level for each user. These rigorous security schemes are required for production and test databases.

Working with Developers and Network Administrators

DBAs need to work closely with other systems staff to ensure high, overall database performance. For instance, there is an increasing overlap between the functions of the DBA and the developer. DBAs also work with network administrators who run the servers on which their databases reside. In fact quite a few DBAs initially start out as programmers or network system administrators. DBAs and developers especially have to work as a team in areas such as design, debugging, implementing and tuning of queries, triggers and stored procedures that are stored in the DBMS. Today's databases do not just store data. They store stored procedures, triggers and user-defined functions, which are processes that act upon that data.

What have been highlighted are major functions of a DBA. The role of the database administrator is very important in an organization. The job can be challenging and exciting. Popular certifications that exist for DBAs include Microsoft's MCDBA and Oracle's OCP DBA. But becoming a DBA involves more than getting a certification. It requires intensive study, constant learning and practice. And most importantly, you must have the right attitude and personality to handle the tasks described earlier. The choice is yours: to DBA or not to DBA?