Profession database administrator

Database administrators test, implement and administer computer databases. They use their expertise in database management systems to plan, coordinate and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases. They also use scripts and configuration files to tailor a database to users' needs.

Personality Type

• Conventional / Investigative

Knowledge

• Data quality assessment

  The process of revealing data issues using ​quality indicators, measures and metrics in order to plan data cleansing and data enrichment strategies according to data quality criteria.

• Database management systems

  The tools for creating, updating and managing databases, such as Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.

• Distributed computing

  The software process in which computer components interact over a network and send messages to communicate on their actions.

• System backup best practice

  The procedures related to preparing for recovery or continuation of technology infrastructure vital to an organisation.

• Data storage

  The physical and technical concepts of how digital data storage is organised in specific schemes both locally, such as hard-drives and random-access memories (RAM) and remotely, via network, internet or cloud.

• Information structure

  The type of infrastructure which defines the format of data: semi-structured, unstructured and structured.

• Data models

  The techniques and existing systems used for structuring data elements and showing relationships between them, as well as methods for interpreting the data structures and relationships.

• Resource description framework query language

  The query languages such as SPARQL which are used to retrieve and manipulate data stored in Resource Description Framework format (RDF).

• Query languages

  The field of standardised computer languages for retrieval of information from a database and of documents containing the needed information.

• Database development tools

  The methodologies and tools used for creating logical and physical structure of databases, such as logical data structures, diagrams, modelling methodologies and entity-relationships.

Skills

• Design database scheme

  Draft a database scheme by following the Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) rules in order to create a logically arranged group of objects such as tables, columns and processes.

• Define database physical structure

  Specify the physical configuration of database files on a given media. This consists of in-detail specifications of indexing options, data types and data elements placed in the data dictionary.

• Perform backups

  Implement backup procedures to backup data and systems to ensure permanent and reliable system operation. Execute data backups in order to secure information by copying and archiving to ensure integrity during system integration and after data loss occurrence.

• Create data models

  Use specific techniques and methodologies to analyse the data requirements of an organisation's business processes in order to create models for these data, such as conceptual, logical and physical models. These models have a specific structure and format.

• Maintain database security

  Master a wide variety of information security controls in order to pursue maximal database protection.

• Manage database

  Apply database design schemes and models, define data dependencies, use query languages and database management systems (DBMS) to develop and manage databases.

• Design database backup specifications

  Specify procedures to be performed on databases which ensure the copying and archiving of data for possible restoration in case of a data loss event.

• Administer ICT system

  Handle components of ICT system by maintaining configuration, managing users, monitoring resource use, performing backups and installing hardware or software to comply with the set requirements.

• Interpret technical texts

  Read and understand technical texts that provide information on how to perform a task, usually explained in steps.

• Operate relational database management system

  Extract, store and verify information using database management systems based on the relational database model, which arranges data into tables of rows and columns, such as Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server and MySQL (Oracle Corporation).

• Maintain database performance

  Calculate values for database parameters. Implement new releases and execute regular maintenance tasks such as establishing backup strategies and eliminating index fragmentation. Evaluate hardware products and operating systems.

• Apply company policies

  Apply the principles and rules that govern the activities and processes of an organisation.

• Perform ICT troubleshooting

  Identify problems with servers, desktops, printers, networks, and remote access, and perform actions which solve the problems.

• Use scripting programming

  Utilise specialised ICT tools to create computer code that is interpreted by the corresponding run-time environments in order to extend applications and automate common computer operations. Use programming languages which support this method such as Unix Shell scripts, JavaScript, Python and Ruby.

• Balance database resources

  Stabilise the workload and resources of a database, by controlling the demand of transactions, allocating disk spaces and ensuring reliability of the servers in order to optimise cost and risk ratio.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB