Database Administrators

Database Administrators (DBAs) are skilled and trained Information System (IS)
professionals who hold discussions with business users to define their data needs; apply
database programming languages to craft a set of database to meet those needs; test and
evaluate databases; implement changes to improve performance; and assure that data is
secure from unauthorized access.
Apart from being IS professionals, DBAs must have clear understanding of the
fundamental of business organization. This qualification of DBAs helps to address the data
needs of users through determining what entities are of interest and what attributes are
to be recorded by working with users for database content. DBAs must also be proficient
in the use of selected database management systems. With regards to this, DBA works
with programmers to ensure programs comply with database management system
standards and conventions. Lastly, DBAs must stay abreast of emerging technology and
new design approaches.
The roles of DBAs are the following:
1. Plan, design, create, operate, secure, monitor and maintain databases
2. Monitor operations logs for security violations
3. Monitors database performance to ensure systems’ response time meets the
users’ needs and operating efficiency.
4. Protect database from attack or other forms of failure. This could be done with
the use of security software, preventive measures, and redundant systems.
Programming languages applied by DBAs include SQL, Java, JavaScript, Python,
Swift/iOS. Security software is a general phrase used to describe any software that
provides security for a computer or network. These include antivirus software, encryption
software, firewall software and spyware removal software. (Beal, Webopedia)
Additionally, security software also manages access control, provides data protection,
secures system against viruses, and defends against other system-level security risks.
(Techopedia)
Apart from DBAs, organizations also employ Data Administrator who are responsible
for defining and implementing consistent principles for variety of data issues. Data
Administrator is also responsible for setting data standards and data definitions.

Table: Popular Database Management Systems

Open-source RDBMS RDBMS for Individuals and RDBMS for Workgroups

Workgroups and Enterprise
MySQL Microsoft Access Oracle
- Most - Combines the - Provides a simple
comprehensive set relational Microsoft automated,
of advanced Jet Database Engine integrated, and
features, and graphical user enterprise-ready
management tools, interface and MySQL cloud
and technical software service, enabling
support to achieve development organizations to
the highest levels of tools.(tutorialspoin increase agility and
scalability, security, t.com) reduce cost.
reliability, and
 uptime. (Oracle
Corporation)

IBM DB2
Google Base - A family of hybrid
- An online database data management
PostgreSQL and free Web products offering
- A powerful, open publishing service complete suite of
source object- provided by Google AI-empowered
relational database that allows users to capabilities
system with over 30 upload their own designed to help in
years of active content. (Rouse, management of
development that WhatIs.com) structured and
has earned it a unstructured data
strong reputation on premises.
for reliability, (ibm.com)
feature robustness,
and performance.
(PostgreSQL Global
Development
Group)

MariaDB – turns data into OpenOffice Base

structured information in a - Fully featured
wide array of applications, system designed to Teradata
ranging from banking to meet the needs of a - Unify all data to
websites. Its notable users broad array of anticipate customer
include Wikipedia, users, from tracking needs and execute
WordPRess.com, and a personal CD hyper-personalized
Google. (MariaDB collections, to interactions.
Foundation) producing a (Teradata.com)
corporate monthly
departmental sales
reports.
(openoffice.org)

SQL Lite – an in-process Microsoft SQL Server

library that implements a - Developed and
self-contained, server less, marketed by
zero-configuration, Microsoft with the
transactional SQL database primary function to
engines. store and retrieve
data used by other
 applications.
(SQLservertutorial.
net)
CouchDB is used by Zynga
to process 250 million
visitors a month.
Progress OpenEdge
- the fundamental
application
development
environment that
keeps business
running. It is an app
producing value,
enabling the
organization to
evolve, thrive, and
compete.
(progress.com)

Database Management System

(DBMS) market ranged from non-
technical individuals to highly trained
professional programmers. It runs
basically on all types of computers
from tablets to supercomputer. This
market generates billions of dollars
per year in revenue for IBM, Oracle, and Microsoft.
Database Characteristics:
1. Size of database
2. Number of concurrent users
3. Database performance
4. Ability of DBMS to be integrated with other system
5. Features
6. Vendor considerations
7. Cost
Database as a Service (DaaS) is an
arrangement where database is stored on a
service provider’s servers and accessed by
service subscriber over the Internet with
database administration handled by service
provider. It is employed by Amazon, Database.com, Google, Heroku, IBM, Intuit,
Microsoft, MyOwnDB, Oracle, and Trackvia.
Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS)
enables organizations to set up and operate their choice
of MySQL, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, or PostgresSQL
relational database in the cloud. Another example of
DaaS is the Amazon Web Services (AWS) employed by
TinyCo. AWS allowed TinyCo to focus its resources on developing and marketing of new
games.
Using Database as service has the following benefits:
1. It automatically backs up database and stores backups based on user-defined
retention period.
2. Support rapid growth in number of users without having to devote constant time
and effort to organize and configure its information system infrastructure.

Using Database with other Software:

Databases can be used for interaction with users over the Internet and can act as
front-end application or back-end application. Front-end and back-end are terms used by
the programmers and IS professionals to describe the layers that make up hardware, a
computer program or website which are delineated based on how accessible it is for users
– being entity that could be human or digital.
Front-end applications are used for statistical
analysis program. Front-end is what you see and
interact with on your browser. It is referred as the
“client-side” that includes everything that user
experience directly from text and colours to buttons,
images, and navigation menus. (Ferguson, 2020:
CareerFoundry Blog) Front-end application acts on to
enter commands or to access other parts of the
software or website. (WebFinance, Inc.)
JavaScript is an essential
font-end web development
which is used in creating
interactive web pages. It also
dynamically display content to
users. Another front-end
application is HTML which is the
fundamental coding language
that creates and organizes web
content. HTML enables web
content to be displayed by a
browser. Accompanying the
HTML is the CSS that defines the
style of a website’s content.
Back-end application where interaction with other programs or applications
occurs which means there is indirect interaction between people or users. It is referred
as the “server-side” and is the portion of the website that cannot be seen. Back-end
application is responsible for storing and organizing data, and ensuring everything on
client-side actually works. (Ferguson, 2020: CareerFoundry Blog)
 Python is best used as back-end application
and a popular general-purpose language found
in web apps, desktop apps, network servers,
machine learning, and media tools. It has a
clear, intuitive, and high-level syntax, making it
a popular choice for beginners. Another
programming language for back-end
application is the Java which has been a staple
in computer programming for more than 20
years. Java is a basis for many Android apps.
Ruby and PHP is also under back-end
application. Ruby is known for having one of the friendliest and most helpful user
communities while PHP is a popular server-side scripting language that powers websites
such as Facebook and Wikipedia. (New Horizons World, 2018)