The Changing World of an (Oracle) Database Administrator

September 9, 2019 | 5 minute read
Kate Farrow
Senior Marketing Manager
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While databases have become larger, more complex, and more technologically advanced over the years, the essential function of the database administrator (DBA) remained relatively stable: primarily to keep the data safe, secure, and available for the user community.

Recent technological changes – and especially the advent of the autonomous database – look set to alter the very nature of the position. Far from making DBAs obsolete, however, these developments will enable the DBA to become more specialized, more business-focused, and more highly prized for the data-driven enterprises of tomorrow.

Juggling Database Priorities

Traditionally, the DBA’s task list was split between daily tactical operations and higher-value business-oriented duties. On the tactical side, the DBA’s responsibilities include:

  • Database optimization
  • Configuration and tuning of systems, network, and storage
  • Database provisioning
  • Patching backups
  • High availability
  • Disaster recovery

Whereas the more strategic, business-focused functions involve:

  • Data architecture, planning, modeling
  • Security and data life-cycle management
  • End-to-end service level management
  • Application-related tuning

As data volumes, business demands, and workloads have intensified over the last decade, DBAs increasingly found themselves caught up with the day-to-day tactical and maintenance tasks. This left little time for the more valuable tasks dedicated to strategy and innovation, including keeping up with and trying to leverage, technological advances like the Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud computing, Blockchain, and AI.

Oracle Innovations: Easing the Burden and Driving Business Value

In response, Oracle has been focusing on creating database technologies which reduce the burden on overworked DBAs. Oracle is the first database company to deliver an automated product. Recent developments include offering Database-as-a-Service and the Oracle Autonomous Database.

Such innovations have resulted in Oracle DBAs no longer needing to be chained to their databases, constantly wrestling with repetitive chores. Instead, they can focus on data strategy and will, therefore, become true value drivers for the business.

Furthermore, the change in job focus opens up a range of exciting career advancement opportunities for today’s database enthusiasts.

Less Mundanity, More Autonomy

The new paradigm of Cloud and automated databases will bring several changes to the way that DBAs manage and engage with an organization’s data.

For starters, far less time will be spent on mundane tasks like setting up, operating, and scaling various databases – whether for production, development, or testing. Additionally, server provisioning, backups, upgrades, tuning, patching, updates, and data encryption can all be automated.

As a result, DBAs will have much more time for data exploration and innovation.

This could include helping their organizations effectively apply big data analytics, AI, and machine learning to identify business opportunities and potential problems. DBAs will have greater opportunities to explore and leverage technologies such as Blockchain and IoT. They may even move into an exciting and efficient DevOps model.

Modern DBAs Are Now Strategic Leaders

Moreover, DBAs are also likely to play a more consultative role and engage closer with non-technical business users – for example, helping them to understand data as a strategic asset. Essentially, the DBA’s focus will be more on the data, less on the database.

In the future, businesses will be handling considerably more data, both structured and unstructured, coming in from a variety of devices and systems across the globe as we move to an IoT world.

As such, the DBA will play a vital role in securely coordinating and integrating a wide range of data environments. Emerging roles that the DBA may transition to include:

  • Enterprise data architect
  • Data steward
  • Integration architect
  • Data engineer
  • Data scientist
  • Business analyst

Continuously Develop DBA Skills for the Future

In the short to mid-term, DBAs should certainly focus on learning about emerging technologies, particularly cloud computing, to help their organizations make the move to a hybrid, and eventually fully cloud environment.

One of the key roles DBAs will play is that of a transformation agent: someone who understands a business current systems and application requirements as well as a range of Cloud technologies, their advantages, and their costing arrangements.

Data architecture, planning, modeling, security, lifecycle management, and analytics will also continue to be valuable skills to master. Perhaps more than ever before, a DBA’s soft skills, particularly communication, will be critical – as will be the ability to manage relationships with cloud and other vendors. DBAs should also develop their leadership skills, as different departments within an organization will be turning to the DBA for clarity and guidance as they assess their opportunities to transition to the cloud.

In this respect, the function of the DBA will include that of an educator, providing the training and tools to enable the business to successfully adopt emerging technologies. To be ready for the data challenges of tomorrow,  today’s DBAs must first look to skill up themselves.

From now on, this learning needs to be continuous – and cover both technical skills as well as business skills training.

Need Continuous Skill Development? Preview Oracle Database Learning Subscriptions 

Oracle University has a continuous learning solution for a DBA’s technical skills: a number of Oracle Database learning subscriptions with features and benefits that will help you quickly achieve your goals.

  • Each Oracle Learning Subscription provides you with the on-demand training to learn about managing your database and build out your skills
  • Individual subscriptions are based on a different starting point of knowledge in combination with your database environment
  • When you pass integrated online exams, you can earn globally recognized Oracle Certifications

Reach out to your Oracle University advisor to discover the optimal solution for your situation. As databases continue to get smarter, the Oracle DBA is uniquely positioned to combine the business world with the data management world, and to enable the strategic success of tomorrow's data-driven enterprises.

Take the first step. Get a free preview of the Oracle Database New Features Learning Subscription to see how it can help you grow your DBA skills.

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Kate Farrow

Senior Marketing Manager

Kate Farrow has worked for Oracle University for many years and has a passion for transferring knowledge to others. Her favorite quote is by Albert Einstein:

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge

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