Using remote support for database administration may seem like a scary prospect. What happens if something goes down? Will you be able to reach them? Would an in-house database administrator (DBA) be able to help be faster? There are a lot of questions to be sure.

The truth is, however, working with a remote DBA support team through a managed service provider (MSP) is a database management strategy that makes sense, on cost, access, and more, for a lot of businesses. Yet, despite having proven itself as a viable database support option time and time again, there are some myths that still persist where remote DBAs are concerned. It’s time to bust them once and for all.

Remote DBAs are less effective than in-house DBAs.

There are benefits to having an in-house DBA, to be sure, but there are also drawbacks — expenses, holidays, vacations, the potential for turnover. A solid remote DBA support team will not only be available 24/7/365, usually at less than the cost of a full-time employee, but the team structure means you have even more database experience backing up your databases.

Only small businesses can benefit from a remote DBA.

As is so often the case, this myth stems from another myth that small businesses have less of a need for database support. Let’s bust that one first — Whether they’re working with an Oracle, SQL Server, or NoSQL database environment, many small businesses rely heavily on a properly managed database to ensure their business can function. Now for the first myth, a good MSP partner should be able to support any database environment regardless of the size of the corporation it’s supporting. So you’re never to big or too small to benefit from MSP DBA support.

Remote DBAs don’t offer knowledge-sharing opportunities.

We can’t speak for all remote DBA support, but the ManageForce team takes arming your team with the skills they need to use their databases effectively very seriously. All the database management expertise in the world doesn’t mean a thing if you, the end-user, isn’t sure how to best use it. Without that knowledge-add, your team will be stuck calling in outside help every time a problem arises or changes are needed.

I’ll never be able to reach my remote DBA support team.

We understand accessibility is a big concern when working with a remote team. There may be a rogue MSP or two out there dodging calls, and disappeared the second the account was up and running, but it certainly isn’t us. Look for an MSP with a proven track record of providing 24/7/365 support for its clients. We know that sometimes your databases don’t follow a 9-5, Monday-Friday schedule and downtime is not something that can wait until regular business hours. If you’re working with a remote DBA support team that vanished after onboarding, give us a call.

Get ready to make the most of your database investments.

Showing the full value of proper database management to the C-Suite can be just as challenging as the management of those databases themselves. Balancing that investment with a tangible return can be even more difficult. That’s why we did the math for you in this Database ROI resource doc. Get your copy here.