Day in the Life of a Database Administrator
To better appreciate the work of a database administrator, you must understand what a database is. Basically, a database is a large collection of data that is sorted into different fields and then stored in one location. This data can then be re-sorted, recalled and also analyzed. Since databases store important details about a company from sensitive financial data to product codes, they are quite important to the whole business. Actually, without the organizing and structural benefits of a database, retrieving critical information about any aspect of the business would be a lot harder.
The functions that database administrators usually do within a day include the following:
Data Analysis
The main responsibility in managing a database is understanding the kind of information being stored, since this influences the database design and data input. The database administrator will also set policies that limit access to the data and set out how the data will be used.
Maintaining Older Database Systems
When a business grows, data loads generally increase and changes and upgrades to older database systems are required. This way the system will always function optimally due to upgraded hardware.
Building New Database Systems
After analyzing the current system, the administrator may decide to create new databases. This professional is then responsible for overseeing the initial design process all the way to final implementation. Debugging, testing and integrating older databases are responsibilities a database administrator has to deal with in a day.
Troubleshooting
Even though databases are very carefully designed, they encounter some problems from time to time. Every day a database administrator ensures that troubleshooting is done and the necessary changes are made.
Training
After finishing setting up a brand new database, a database administrator holds regular training sessions to show other staff members how to use the new system for their daily duties.
Security
The final daily responsibility of a database administrator is ensuring their databases are secured with the latest security protocols. This prevents the company from losing valuable information stored in their databases.
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