Database administration definition
Database administration is the process of managing and maintaining database systems. It’s meant to ensure their availability, performance, integrity, and security. Administrators responsible for these tasks are usually called database administrators (DBAs). They use specialized tools to track, optimize, backup, and restore databases.
See also: cloud database, data administration
Database administrator's responsibilities
Here are the core responsibilities of a DBA:
- Installing database servers and updating the software to include all available security patches.
- Designing databases with both logical and physical aspects in mind.
- Implementing and managing backup procedures to protect the data. It includes having a plan for data recovery in case of an accident.
- Monitoring and fine-tuning the database's performance.
- Implementing and enforcing security policies by managing user permissions and roles.
- Predicting data growth and ensuring the database has enough resources to handle both current and future demands.
- Carrying out regular data purging, re-indexing, and optimizing to keep everything running smoothly.
- Troubleshooting the database's issues, identifying root causes, and implementing solutions.
- Preparing strategies and procedures to quickly restore data in case of an attack.
- Preparing documentation for database architectures, procedures, and practices. It's useful both for internal referencing and for compliance with various regulations.
