A database administrator, also known as a DBA, is someone who takes a hands-on role in keeping databases up and running.

Of course this short explanation of a DBA’s duties really doesn’t do justice to the scope of the job and the importance that this type of professional has in a modern business environment.

If you’re curious about becoming a DBA yourself, or you’re simply wondering what your colleagues in this field get up to, read on for a rundown of the main aspects involved.

Design databases

Broadly speaking, DBAs do much more than just oversee the everyday operation of an existing database. Indeed they may be expected to design entire infrastructures, as well as plan ahead for future changes and upgrades further down the line.

Part of this involves considering how data from different sources will be collected, integrated and analyzed. Being able to move data with tools like SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) is an important element in this context.

The extent to which an individual DBA will be responsible for database design and planning depends on the scope of the organization’s IT resources, as well as their seniority and experience level.

Manage access

Another aspect of a DBA’s duties is making sure that end users can access the database with ease, while also protecting it from unauthorized or outright malicious third parties.

Monitoring the comings and goings of users, ironing out accessibility issues for front-end apps and services, and generally tracking who is leveraging the database from moment to moment, should be a priority for any DBA.

This ties into the wider security implications of database administration, which again can vary wildly from business to business and role to role. It is safe to assume that access management and security will go hand in hand, which may mean liaising with colleagues in other teams to protect mission-critical systems properly.

Monitor performance

It is not just end users who need to be monitored by DBAs, but also the myriad performance metrics which let you know whether the infrastructure is functioning as intended, or whether issues have arisen which need troubleshooting.

Everything from storage capacity and CPU usage to query wait times and deadlocks should be scrutinized by DBAs, not only so that flaws can be fixed, but so that you have a baseline for performance from which you can judge future scenarios you encounter.

The good news is that as well as most good database platforms having built-in performance monitoring and management tools, there are ample third party solutions available to assist DBAs in this task.

They can automate a lot of the monitoring process and provide alerts when things go awry, as well as narrowing down the potential causes of any complications.

Performance monitoring is crucial because it keeps the apps and services which the database supports ticking over consistently, which avoids user disgruntlement, boosts productivity and avoids the reputation of the organization tanking.

Implement continuity and recovery contingencies

Even the most experienced DBAs will have to deal with unplanned database downtime at some point, so rather than hoping for the best without taking action, it is necessary to plan to ensure continuity and enable recovery after any kind of outage.

High availability solutions can enable secondary servers to kick in and keep vital services up and running even if the main database instance is taken out of action.

You can also specify backup practices and protocols that provide you with peace of mind and a means of recovering data, while minimizing the disruption to database performance as part of this process.

This ties in with the database design duties that DBAs could be required to take on. Continuity planning is not just about having an emergency backup infrastructure in place, but also acknowledging the common causes of downtime and doing your best to circumvent them.

For example, the aforementioned monitoring of database performance will let you predict how hardware usage will change over time.

In this way, you will know roughly when your storage resources will reach capacity, or your CPU will be incapable of keeping up with the demand of processes, and can aim to expand space and upgrade hardware before this results in downtime.

Update software

A database ecosystem will usually consist of several different pieces of software working in unison. From the underlying OS and the database system itself to the monitoring tools and security solutions, there are a lot of plates to keep spinning as a DBA, and software updates are an unavoidable part of this.

DBAs not only need to be on the ball when it comes to rolling out updates as and when they are released, but also in terms of the testing that they do to ensure system stability following installation.

Planning is of course involved, because you want to avoid the updating and testing interfering with the database’s accessibility and performance. Scheduling it for periods of low usage, outside of office hours, makes sense, and so time management and task prioritization skills should also be developed by professionals in this field.

Author documentation

DBAs don’t operate in a vacuum, and as such they need to be aware of how their work applies to those around them, as well as those who will follow in their footsteps.

Because of this, writing documentation to cover the procedures you follow, the standards you adhere to and the policies you put in place for managing the database resources for which you are responsible is part and parcel of the job.

This will allow others to understand and interpret what you do, so that there is no mystery or guesswork involved. You won’t always be in work, and you will eventually move on, so being able to write clear, thorough, comprehensible documentation is a must.

Concluding considerations

As you can see, database administrators have a lot on their plate. This makes it an exciting, stimulating and of course high pressure job, which many find rewarding.

With the right training, experience and mentorship, becoming a DBA is within the grasp of many, so don’t write it off even if you are not a technical whiz.