Functions of a Database Administrator

With the constant rise of big data and its applications, management of databases has become a crucial process. Data has always played a major role and hence organizations invest extensively in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS).

But, running these systems is not an easy task and to effectively run and manage a database management system, it is very important to hire an expert Database Administrator (DBA). The DBA is responsible for the everyday working, maintenance, and updating of the system. Hence, it is very important to understand the key roles and responsibilities of a Database Administrator.

The next 5 sections talks about the most important functions of a DBA.

Software Installation and Set-up

The very basic function of a DBA is to choose and set up the right Database management system for the organization. The installation and set-up play a very important role in the overall functioning of the system. Although, the process is done in collaboration with a system administrator who sets up the hardware and the servers, it the responsibility of the DBA to configure the database management software and update as and when required. In case the server needs to be replaced, the DBA is responsible for the migration process too.

Performance Monitoring

A major function of a DBA is to constantly monitor the performance of the database management system for any errors or lag. In case a slow system is detected during Performance monitoring, it is important for the DBA to re-configure the system to accommodate any software or hardware improvements.

An important aspect of efficient monitoring is the selection of the correct tools. Performance monitoring helps the DBA understand the functioning of the database and track it at regular intervals.

Database Tuning and Capacity Planning

Performance monitoring gives major insights on the working of the database. For a DBA, the data is enough to understand when something is wrong and fine tune as per the requirement. As a DBA, one of the major priorities is not only to keep the database running but increasing its efficiency whenever possible. Database tuning can prevent problems rather than waiting for them to occur to find a solution.

With the help of monitoring and database tuning, a DBA can also plan the database capacity which will be required to operate smoothly. This will increase efficiency and decrease any excessive storage requirements. On the other hand, a sudden increase in demand would need the DBA to

Extract, Transform and Load (ETL)

Commonly known as ETL, it involves the movement of large volumes of data from different sources into the data environment. It is then the responsibility of the DBA to organize the data after thorough cleaning and filtering in the required format of the database. The formatted data is then transferred to the central repository of the system.

This is very important since the data can have multiple types of files and if not supported by the database management system, it can cause the system to crash.

Security and Authentication

These are two major components of any database management system since the data carries sensitive information and can put the organisation at risk of a cyber attack. A DBA has to be aware of the potential weaknesses of the database and constantly work to improve them. While 100% protection is not possible, a DBA needs to work towards achieving the number closest to it.

A DBA needs to collaborate with an audit team in case of a security breach to understand the damage done. In addition to security, the DBA is also responsible for setting up authentication checks taking control of the employees and the rights they have access to in the system.

Do you need a DBA Consultant?

The difference between an on-premise DBA and a DBA consultant is that the consultant not just brings in the skills necessary to the maintain the databases, but also brings in a vast array of experiences that can help businesses identify risks, solve existing problems and help scale applications.