Database Admin

As a Database Management System Expert, you will be actively participating in the modeling, design, coding, development, and implementation of online/ offline repository or data management system infrastructures which will contain all crucial information regarding any business/ businesses.

This information is of tremendous value to the performance, scalability (growth) and reliability of the concerned business. It is used for accurate & actionable reporting, data analysis and for creating analytical reports to be used by workers throughout a enterprise.

What is a Database and a Database System?

A database is an organized collection of data, generally stored and accessed electronically from a computer system. The database management system (DBMS) is the software that interacts with users to capture and analyze the data. The collection of the database, the DBMS and the associated applications put together can be referred to as a "database system".

Let us think of an example.

Take ‘Zomato’. Do you realize how a database can be useful to the business? Consider the hundreds of thousands of customers, hundreds of thousands of restaurants, hundreds of thousands of orders every day, millions of food items, promotional codes, customer feedback, the restaurant reviewing system, the rating systems of delivery partners, the personal data of delivery partners, the phone numbers of users, the billing, and sales data.

These data items make up just a small part. There are so many others. Each of these are related to the other in a specific manner and such relations have to be used in productive ways to affect the business growth positively.

The Scenario today

There is a confounding amount of data created every day, as we continue to rely on massive computer networks and digital devices managed by multinational corporations. Although data does not occupy any physical space but the hardware on which it is stored does. Database Management System Experts are challenged with addressing the tall task of managing where our data ends up and making data management processes more efficient.

Can you vaguely picture the volume of data that prevails today?

Hundreds of thousands of Terabytes (1000GB) of data summing up to petabytes (1000000GB) already. Immensely difficult to store in any hardware independently. And this volume leads us to the ruling concept of ‘metadata’. To control, analyze and draw inferences from these terabytes of data, we need more data that defines and provides information about the existing data! Confused?

‘Metadata’ – Further, Briefly

Take for example, metadata for a music file might include the artist's name, the album name, and the year it was released. The artist’s name may be associated with a short description of her achievements, the album name may be followed by a brief about it and the year may be connected to other popular releases.

Associative, Hierarchical and Cyclical

Metadata is associative, hierarchical and cyclical. ‘Associative’ means there exists some kind of relationship between two sets of information. ‘Hierarchical’ means layered: there exist multiple layers of information. Cyclical’ means there exists no defined climax. This means that any metadata framework never ends: one point leads to the other and that to another. When you think you have closed in towards the last point, you will actually be back at square 1. There is no last point.

This is where cloud technologies come in.

We have arrived at the age where such huge volumes of generated data and the associated metadata cannot be accommodated in local hardware systems and so scientists developed a way of remotely handling digital information, specifically through a ‘cloud’.

What is a Cloud?

‘Cloud’ basically refers to information technology services rendered over a communication and data transmission network, use of which could be limited to a single organization, available to many organizations, available to people at a geographical area, or to the public at large all over the world. Cloud Computing refers to the application of the collection of all cloud technologies and cloud-hosted products.

Who Uses Cloud Computing?

Most companies today require a place where they can securely store their data. Almost 2/3rds of global enterprises are using cloud computing today. Companies are currently investing 4.5 times the rate of traditional IT spending in cloud infrastructure.

Getting the idea?

Here’s an Example

For an example, think of the entire framework of Google Docs, think of whatever comes to your mind first while working with Google Docs (maybe storing your study materials or writing mock answers). You most definitely need an Internet connection and you do not need to store anything locally on the system which you are working on but you are able to access all your data whenever you require them. This is basically stored on something called the ‘public cloud’ which allows access to any user across the globe.

So Much Was About Storing the Volume. What use is it?

Now, the exploitation, representation, use and the larger benefit of accumulating so much data is described in the later sections in detail.

First, understand that

Database management system experts perform a number of functions with the data contained in databases. These functions are mostly: controlling access to data, defining data types (such as creating, or altering, tables and the relationships among them), performing tasks such as inserting/ updating/ deleting data occurrences, searching for data within the database (data querying) and analyzing derived information.

SQL, Sequel or Ess-cue-ell!

Each of these functions as just described uses a specific special-purpose language.SQL, “the most popular” of these special-purpose languages, combines the roles of data definition, data manipulation, and query in a single language. Almost all companies work with their databases using SQL today.

There are, although, many other alternatives in the market today but you will find SQL enjoying the highest recognition among all recruiters today. Also, exposure to only SQL, most likely also ensures a smooth transition into learning ways to use the other options too.

Digging Deeper

Traditionally, DBMSes were built to store data in the form of files. This convention has been replaced by the relational model of a database. This is called RDBMS or relational Database Management System.

What is a relational database?

A relational database refers to a database that stores data in a structured format, using rows and columns. RDBMS store data in a tabular form, while traditional DBMS applications store data as files.

The vast majority of databases used in modern applications are relational. RDBMS is an advanced version of a DBMS system.

Data values in a RDBMS are stored in the form of tables. The ‘relationships’ between these data values are also separately stored in the form of a table. This is why it is called Relational – DBMS. Each of the tables are characterized by an identifier called primary key.

The Graph Database Model

Advancing further, takes us to a ‘graph database model’ which is much more accurate than a relational database. A graph database is gathering of nodes & edges. A node represents a substance, for example, a person or business.

An edge represents a connection or relationship between the two nodes. Each node and each edge are labeled by unique identifiers. Such interconnections have led to better response time & accuracy to discover new data correlations, optimize marketing performance and fuel the growth of a business.

You can gradually start realizing the complexity of such database systems and the importance of management system experts who handle such crucial tasks.

Now how do we utilize this data?

This is where the duties of Data Warehousing Specialists and Administrators come in.

Database Administrators install & maintain the performance of database servers. They manage database access of the connected devices. They also install, upgrade, and manage database applications too. A database server in simple terms is the hardware/ cloud storing the database.

Example?

Let’s talk about the bike-sharing service Hubway, which includes data on over 1.5 million trips made with the service. Database Administrators of Hubway will work with databases that store crucial information including customer name, customer address, customer phone number, order number, date, amount due, sales data etc. in different tables and all of them are linked in the form of an RDBMS/ graph-DBS.

Data Warehousing Specialists work on systems (warehouses) used for accurate & actionable reporting and data analysis drawing existing information integrated from the internal or external repositories/ databases of a company.

Warehouses are used for creating analytical reports for workers throughout the enterprise. These warehouses are considered a core component of business intelligence, online analytical processing, market research and decision support.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Database Management System Expert, you will be engaged with one or more of the following roles & responsibilities as well as other associated duties:

1. You will develop database architectural strategies at the modeling, design & implementation stages to address business concerns and design databases to support business applications, performance & reliability.
2. You will monitor database activity & file usage; modify existing databases & database management systems or direct programmers & analysts to make changes, and ensure that necessary resources are present so that databases function properly by removing or deleting old or obsolete files.
3. You will design database applications, such as interfaces, data partitions, global temporary tables, and data transfer mechanisms, to enable efficient access to the generic database structure.
4. You will develop data warehouse process models, including sourcing, loading, transformation, and extraction.
5. You will design, implement, or operate comprehensive data warehouse systems to balance optimization of data access, according to customer requirements.
6. You will write new programs or modify existing programs and perform system analysis/ data analysis to meet customer requirements, using current programming languages & technologies.
7. You will develop data models describing data points and how they are used, using statistical reporting & computer technologies, including Siebel Analytics, SQL Server, Tableau, ETL, Informatica, Power BI or Teradata.
8. You will set up database clusters, backup, or recovery processes; work on database development standards and develop & document database architectures.
9. You will identify, evaluate and recommend hardware or software technologies to achieve desired database performance.

• You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.
• You should have interests for Enterprising Occupations. Enterprising occupations involve taking initiatives, initiating actions, and planning to achieve goals, often business goals. These involve gathering resources and leading people to get things done. These require decision making, risk-taking, and action orientation.
• You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment.

Knowledge

• You should have knowledge of Computers– Knowledge of computer hardware and software, computer programming, computer networks, computer and mobile applications.

• You should have sound knowledge of commercial DBMSspecific to UNIX/Linux platforms such as Oracle products (like the open-source MySQL environment and Oracle itself), Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, MariaDB etc.
• You should have knowledge and understanding of containerization, understanding of SQL/PLSQL & database programming, Microsoft Enterprise Server software, RAC Oracle Cluster databases, troubleshooting Oracle Server issues, troubleshooting Data Guard issues, Oracle Data Guard Switchover & Failover Procedures, IIS, Active Directory LDAP Authentication Process, Message Queue and working knowledge of RMAN backup restore.
• You may need knowledge and an understanding of statistical reporting and computer technologies, including Siebel Analytics, SQL Server, Tableau, ETL, Informatica, Power BI or Teradata.
• You should have knowledge and understanding of AWS RDS Aurora, DynamoDB and Redshift etc. and metadata management software such as CA Erwin Data Modeler, Data dictionary software, Data mapping software, Data modeling software, IBM Rational Data Architect, Pentaho Kettle, Visual Paradigm DB Visual ARCHITECT etc.
• You should have knowledge of data mining algorithms including classifiers, clustering algorithms and anomaly detection techniques and familiarity with database modeling, data warehousing and Big Data tools like Spark, Hive etc.

Skills

• You should have Scientific Skills - in using various scientific rules and methods to get things done or solve problems.
• You should have Technical Skills - using various technologies and technical methods to get things done or solve problems.
• You should have Quality Control Analysis Skills - conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• You should have experience working independently under general direction within the scope of an assignment and use sound judgment in determining methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
• You should have Systems Analysis Skills - determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, or the environment will affect outcomes.
• You should have enough verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present technical ideas/results.
• You should have Critical Thinking skills- Skills in the analysis of complex situations, using logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.
• You should have Judgment and Decision Making Skills - considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.
• You should have Problem Solving Skills - Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.
• You may need Programming Skills - writing computer programs for various applications, installation of computer programs and troubleshooting of problems in computer programs or software.
• You should have Systems Evaluation Skills - identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Ability

• You should have Deductive Reasoning Ability - apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.
• You should have Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• You should have Inductive Reasoning Ability - to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analyzing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.
• You should have Information Ordering Ability - to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• You should have Oral Comprehension Ability - listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• You should have Oral Expression Ability - communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• You should have Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with several ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Personality Traits

• You are always or mostly careful about your actions and behavior.
• You are always or mostly disciplined in your action and behavior.
• You are always calm or generally remain calm in most situations.
• You can always act independently or could do so in most situations.
• You always prefer to experience new things and have new experiences, or you mostly do.