Database Administrator, also known as DBA, is a word of inquisitive nature for readers and has always accompanied by “who”, “what” and “How”. Whoever get to know this word must search for Who is a Database Administrator, what does Database Administrator do, what are the responsibilities of Database Administrator, how to be a good Database Administrator, what are the challenges of Database Administrator and what qualification and certification a DBA should have. So, get relaxed, seat back, and go through this blog to get all your answers addressed.

A database, a collection of structured data, efficiently stores volumes of information and records while taking up a little space. It supports quick access to appropriate information on time. Further, it is easy to feed new data, edit and delete the old data from a database. But this maintenance of the database does not happen on its own. There is always a need for someone who manages all the maintenance and up-to-date database while ensuring its’ performance and security. Well, the one who takes charge of all these is a Database Administrator i.e., DBA

Who is Database Administrator?

An information technician who makes sure that all the activities, required to maintain the database environment ,perform well is a Database Administrator. Therefore, a DBA is a person responsible for the efficient functioning of the company’s database and related applications.

What does a Database Administrator do?

A Database Administrator is supposed to plan and develop a database and fix problems on behalf of users. That is to say he has to do the following to maintain a database

• Consistency of data across the database
• Clear, concise, and well-defined data in a database
• multiple users’ accessibility across the data simultaneously but in a way that fits their needs
• enhanced data security and recovery control i.e., ensuring that all data is retrievable in case of any disaster

What are the top ten roles and Responsibilities of a Database Administrator?

If we enlist roles and responsibilities of a Database Administrator, it would be too many to cover. However, the top 10 roles and responsibilities which have a significant impact on the tasks of a Database Administrator are listed below.

1. Software installation and maintenance
2. Data Extraction, Transformation, and Loading
3. Database Backup and Recovery
4. Specialized Data Handling
5. Security
6. Authentication
7. Capacity Planning
8. Performance monitoring
9. Database Tuning
10. Troubleshooting

Software Installation and Maintenance by Database Administrator

After the system administrator sets up the hardware and deploys the operation system on it, the role of a Database Administrator comes into play. That is to say a DBA needs to install the Database software and configure it for use. Further, he has the responsibility of ongoing maintenance as updates and patches are needed. DBA is also responsible for the transfer of data from one system to a new platform if a new server is necessary.

Data Extraction, Transformation, and Loading

DBA is responsible to extract large volumes of data from multiple systems and importing it into the data warehouse environment. It is here that DBA has to play his role in cleaning up and transforming data to fit the desired format so as to import efficiently.

Database Backup and Recovery by Database Administrator

DBAs are responsible for establishing backup and recovery plans depending upon industry’s best practices. Therefore, a DBA hast to make it certain that crucial steps are followed to save data. That is to say here a DBA has to play his role for a time, and cost cut down by persuading management to take essential precautions. While in the worst-case scenario of data loss, he is responsible for restoring data.

Data Handling

Nowadays, databases are massive and contain more unstructured data types like videos and images. So, a Database Administrator requires high-level skills to monitor, tune and maintain a very large database (VLDB) effectively.

Security of Database

The Database Administrator (DBA) is responsible for knowing the faults of the database software and firm’s system to minimize the overall risk. While in case of any breach he is responsible for auditing.

Authentication of Database

As a DBA you are responsible for maintaining the accessibility of employees as an important aspect of database security. That is to say a DBA controls the access and type of access allowed to a user. For example, a user can have the authorization to see certain data and is not allowed to make changes to the system.

Capacity Planning

A Database Administrator has also to play its role in confirming how large the database is at the moment and at what pace it is growing so as to meet the necessary predictions for upcoming needs.

Performance Monitoring

Performance monitoring of issues occurring in the ongoing database system is a part of the responsibilities and roles a DBA has to do. To clarify it, DBA has to configure changes to the software or hardware capacity to deal with slowing down issues.

Database Tuning

Performance monitoring reveals where the database needs modification, adjustment, and rectification so as to operate as efficiently as possible. With this efficient monitoring, it is feasible to proactively tune a system based on application and usage instead of staying up until trouble develops.

Troubleshooting

One of the main responsibilities of DBA is to always stay on call for troubleshooting any problems on the spot. It includes swiftly fixing lost data or an issue to minimize damage. Therefore, a DBA needs prompt understanding and response to a problem.

What are the six Challenges of Database Administrator?

There are five main challenges that DBA faces all time. These are

1. Migration to cloud
2. Migration to new technology
3. Need to improve performance
4. Management of larger systems
5. Quick and safe flow of data
6. Management of frequent deployments

Migration to cloud

while organizations are embracing cloud storage for their database, very few are migrating completely. So, DBA needs to manage hybrid systems that combine on-premises and cloud implementations.

Migration to new technology

With the passage of time, technology changes its trends, and one has to move with these trends to stay secure and protected. The same is the case for databases i.e., SQL servers keep updating and DBA has to acclimatize with new technology to ensure the protection of vital data on the cloud and on-premises databases, and to ensure compliance with current rules and regulations.

Need to improve performance

Data is a lifeline of any organization which needs to be maintained and improved in performance for a successful business. So, for a DBA performance optimization is the most common and important task, with 70% listing it as part of their role, ahead of backups, deployments, and data transformations.

Management of larger systems

Databases are being managed on-premises and cloud which are continuously growing. So, it has become a challenge for a DBA to look after the health of their database systems and resolve issues related to them with their ever-increasing size.

Quick and safe flow of data

Successfully managing the growing hybrid systems increases the reliance on the greater use of monitoring tools. Therefore, a DBA has to meet the objectives of optimized performance and has to ensure that data flows safely and securely to the right organizational parts.

Management of frequent deployments

The main reason for database problems is human error. The rate of database development and deployments is growing side by side, so shortcomings sneak in easily specifically if adjustments and modifications are executed by both Database Administrators and developers with distinct experiences. So, Database Administrators have to manage the frequent upgrades and patch deployments accordingly to avoid problems.

How to become a successful Database Administrator?

To become a good and effective DBA, one has to develop the following skills and habits

• Thoroughly understand the objectives of your organization
• Understand the needs of business behind the services you provide
• Know how to sustain your availability, stability and enhance your response time
• Keep updated knowledge about the cloud and environment of the computing world
• Stay on guard with the maintenance, backup, and recovery to keep your database secure
• Make use of Business Intelligence (BI) tools and get insights from your data to enhance your decision making
• Know your professional network and prevent isolation
• Stay on top of your tables
• Look before you leap
• adopt a professional and humorous attitude towards people
• Understand why your role of DBA exists
• stay organized and planned
• Find out something new daily-learn and learn attitude towards technology

Which Qualifications and Certifications does a Database Administrator have?

To become a DBA, one should have one of the following qualifications

1. Computer Science
2. Mathematics
3. Computer System Engineering
4. Electronics
5. Computer Software
6. Information Technology
7. Operational Research

To be a certified DBA, one should have one of the following certifications

1. IBM Advanced Database Certification
2. Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certification
3. Oracle MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator Certification
4. MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
5. MCSE Data Platform Solutions Expert certification

Wrap up

To wrap it up, a Database Administrator known as DBA is responsible for the management, handling, security, tuning, and troubleshooting of the database. As a DBA, one must have the courage to overcome the challenges of migration, new technology, improvements ad frequent deployments. Without a DBA, a business is merely nothing but a rubble of data. So, if anyone of you is considering choosing DBA as your career, this blog will be enough to pitch you the need of DBA in the coming era of data and technology.