Database Administrator Responsibilities

The database administrator is responsible for performing a number of duties. Based on the work the Database administrator does, their role varies. Different roles of database administrators are Database architect, Data modeler,  Database analyst, System DBA, Application DBA, Performance analyst, Task-oriented DBA and Data warehouse administrator. Now, let us go through the duties of database administrators.

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The following are some of the main responsibilities that comprise a database administrator everyday work:

Installing and maintenance of the software: A DBA will often work together with other employees of the organization to install and configure a new Oracle database, SQL Server, etc. The system administrator will configure the hardware and will deploy the OS for the database server; then, the DBA will install the database software and configure it to use it. Since the updates and the patches are necessary, the DBA is responsible for this continuous maintenance. Whenever a new server is required, the DBA is responsible for transferring data to the new platform from the existing system.

Extracting, Transforming, and Loading Data: Extracting, transforming, and loading data is related to importing huge volumes of data efficiently which have been retrieved from multiple systems within a data warehouse environment. The external data is cleaned and processed to adapt to the desired format to be able to import it to a central repository.

Specialized data handling: Databases can be large and include unstructured data types like documents, images, video, or sound files. The management of a large database needs higher-level skills as well as additional tuning and monitoring to maintain efficiency

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Database Recovery and backup: Database Administrators create recovery and backup plans and procedures according to the industry best practices and then ensure that the required steps are taken. Backups are costly and time-consuming, so database administrators may need to convince management to take the required precautions to keep the data safe. System administrators or other staff can usually create the backups.  It is the responsibility of the DBA to ensure that it is done in a  timely manner. If the server fails or some data loss occurs, the DBA will use the present backups to restore the lost information on the system. Different recovery strategies are needed for different types of failures, and DBAs should be ready for every eventuality. As technology evolves, it becomes increasingly common for the DBA to back up databases in the cloud, MS Azure for SQL Server and Oracle Cloud for Oracle databases.

Security: A Database administrator should be aware of potential weaknesses in the company's database software and overall system and try to minimize risks. While no system is fully immune to attacks, the implementation of best practices may reduce risks. If there is an irregularity or a security breach, the DBA may refer to the audit logs to find out who did what with the data. The Audit trials also matter when using regulated data.

Authentication: A significant aspect of database security is the configuration of employee access. Database administrators are responsible for managing the access and the type permissions the users are given. For example, a user can be allowed to view only some pieces of information or not be permitted to make changes to the system.

Capacity planning: The DBA should know the current size of the database and the speed at which it is growing so that they can predict future requirements. Storage is the amount of space the database occupies in the server and the backup space. Capacity is the level of usage. If the organization is growing rapidly and has a large number of new users, then the DBA will need to develop the capacity to manage the additional workload.

Monitoring the performance: Monitoring the databases for performance problems is part of continuous system maintenance performed by a DBA. If any part of the system slows down processing, the DBA needs to modify the software configuration or should add extra hardware capability. There are many kinds of monitoring tools, and DBA's are responsible for understanding what they need to improve the system. Third-party organizations may be ideal to outsource this aspect, but ensure they provide modern DBA support.

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Tuning the database: Performance monitoring indicates where the database must be modified to work most effectively. The physical configuration, how the database is indexed, and the way queries are managed may all have a dramatic impact on the database performance. We can proactively adjust a system according to the application and use it with effective monitoring instead of waiting for an issue to develop.

Troubleshooting: DBA's are available for troubleshooting if an issue arises. Whether they want to restore the lost data quickly or fix a problem to minimize damage, the database administrators should understand and answer problems quickly when they arise.

If a user requires help or assistance at any time, DBA has a responsibility to help them. The DBA also provides complete support for new users of the database. And Users' queries must be executed quickly. The users expect fast retrieval of responses to their queries. So, the database administrator enhances the query processing by increasing their performance.

Database administrator's responsibilities

The Database administrator has the following responsibilities:

• Make the decision with respect to the database content.
• Plans access strategy and storage structure.
• Gives assistance to users.
• Defines integrity and security checks.
• Interprets the strategies related to recovery and backup.
• Monitor performance and respond to changing requirements.

Skills needed for database administrator

Following are the skills needed for a database administrator to become successful:

• Designing the database.
• Familiarity with Structured Query Language (SQL).
• Understanding the distributed architecture.
• Familiarity with the various operating servers.
• Familiarity with the Relational Database Management System. 
• Willing to deal with challenges and resolve issues quickly.

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Conclusion:

In this blog, we have gone through the duties of a  database administrator. We hope you found this information useful. If you need any information related to database administrators, keep in touch with us.

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