The DBA Balancing Act

In today’s technology-focused age, few companies could ensure business continuity without their mission-critical software applications. And, without the robust databases that house the application data, those systems are all but useless.

Database change management is a risky business. Each day database administrators (DBAs) must make various modifications and adjustments to the database environment to address the needs and requirements of end users. At the same time, because organizations rely heavily on back-end systems to support core business operations, these DBAs must ensure that the changes they make do not disrupt day-to-day activities, or hinder database performance.

But, finding the proper balance between the two can be quite a challenge. DBAs work tirelessly to preserve the reliability of the corporate databases, while delivering the functionality end users demand. Both are crucial to keeping the business running smoothly and seamlessly.

Another of the major challenges for DBA Managers is to differentiate Roles & Responsibilities when it comes to the database. Implementing release changes in the database structure and lookup content requires a deep knowledge of both the database and the application, which is why DBAs and DBA Managers are generally responsible for both building the script and executing it. However, manual build script preparation leaves ample room for human error and is a time-consuming, tedious process. Evaluating change scripts created by development teams can become even more challenging due to the sheer volume of changes, and on many occasions – DBA teams can’t deal with code review, but are left to deal with damage control when things break.

DBAs seldom get the recognition and the respect they deserve – especially when you consider the crucial nature of the systems they are tasked with overseeing.

In addition to praise and accolades, corporate and IT management should also realize the importance of the DBA’s role in the business, and empower them with the solutions they need – such as comprehensive, next-generation database version control software – to perform their jobs as productively and effectively as possible.