There are many careers in the field of computers. One of these is a database administrator. This is a specialist who manipulates specially made software to store and process data. Known in short as a DBA, this is a specialist who stores, analyzes, backs up and presents data in a database.
A DBA has many responsibilities. These include;
- Analyzing the database needs of an organization.
- Identifying the ideal database technologies that should be used.
- Designing, building, implementing and maintaining a database system.
- Overseeing the entry of data in it.
- Creating and implementing the policies that will be used to manage the database.
- Establishing the rules that should be used to secure the data in the database.
- Training the users on how to use the database.
- Establishing new databases or transferring data from old databases to new ones.
- Performing tests on the databases routinely to ensure they are running effectively.
- Troubleshooting of database systems.
- Establishing database security measures to protect the integrity of the organization.
Database administrators are very well trained in various database technologies. Examples of these are;
- SAP
- Oracle
- Microsoft SQL Server
Academic requirements to be a database administrator (DBA)
You can be a database administrator with a certificate or associate’s degree in a computer-related discipline. The certificate would take you one year to complete while the associate’s degree would take you two years. Also, a holder of a bachelor’s or master’s degree in comer science or a related discipline can function in the capacity of a DBA. The bachelor’s degree takes a total of 4 years while the master’s degree takes 2 years.
The subjects and disciplines that can lead to being a database administrator include computer science, business administration, programming, mathematics and statistics.
Daily routine of a DBA
A database administrator has a very tedious job. They have to work 40 hour weeks in office locations. If there is any extra database work to be done, the DBA will have to put in the extra hours. Normally, a database administrator is on call throughout the day and night. Click here to know more about remote DBA services.
If the DBA is working for a large company, they can be sent to work in various branches to maintain the databases. As such, the job entails significant traveling as well. It is officially an 8.00am to 5.00pm job. The database administrators spend many hours sitting at their desks in front of their computers. As such, they are advised to get up and stretch every few minutes. This is to prevent problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, back and neck pain.
More about DBAs
Today, almost all computer environments are networked together. This results in databases being networked too. A DBA in modern times has to know the fundamentals of networking so as to perform their job. In addition to that, they should be able to know how to connect the database to the internet for remote connections.
There are generally two types of database administrators. These are the in-house and the remote DBAs. The in-house DBAs work inside the premises of the organization while the remote DBAs work through a secure network connection.
Bio
Ian Hendrix is a database administrator. He works with one of the biggest oil companies in the world. To learn more from him, click here to know more about remote DBA services.
