As technology advances, the roles of the modern workforce are changing just as quickly with new skills needed to master this ever-changing landscape, particularly as business-critical functions move to the cloud. Somewhere in the midst of all of this moving and shaking, some have come to believe that with the shift to the cloud, the role of the DBA has ceased to exist altogether. To borrow from Mark Twain, the rumors of the death of the DBA have been greatly exaggerated.
The need for experts to keep your company’s Oracle, SQL Server, and NoSQL databases up and functioning at their best is still of vital importance. And while many tasks today have been automated, there are still many services provided by a DBA that cannot be replaced by automated cloud services. Additionally, cloud services are principally an architectural paradigm shift; they do not negate the need for competent & committed oversight of your critical databases. The expertise, knowledge of your specific business, and industry knowledge that comes with an experienced DBA cannot be replicated by an algorithm. So, the role of the DBA hasn’t disappeared, but transformed, just like the industries they serve.
Still, many small to medium sized organizations cannot justify a full-time DBA’s annual salary, which can exceed $100,000 and that’s without even considering added expenses like yearly technical training. That’s why many companies are looking to cover these business-critical, but tedious tasks to outside resources, oftentimes managed services providers. This “right-sourcing” approach has more than a few advantages beyond its obvious budget-friendliness.
Stem the Ebb and Flow of Staffing Changes
Staffing is a common struggle in the IT department with many experiencing near-constant staffing fluctuations or gaps in needed skill sets. Imagine adding senior-level database management—whether it’s five or forty hours per week—at a fraction of the cost of another full-time employee. That’s what remote database management with a managed service provider can do for your team, give you peace of mind knowing your databases are covered with 24/7 support. Additionally, it’s possible to tap into DBA support on an as-needed basis. Some external DBA providers give you the ability to dial up or down the level of outside support needed for the IT department at any time, which will make your team more nimble in times of crisis or during changes.
Improve Efficiency with Oracle, SQL Server, and NoSQL Database Experts
Do away with the DIY. Your databases are too important to pass off to whoever “has the time.” A right-sourced DBA can efficiently find the root causes of issues, unlike less versed and untrained personnel who are not experts in this field. A remote DBA can also provide expert ongoing troubleshooting and health checks to identify and get ahead of issues before they become larger problems. That saves you time, money, and headaches, in the long-run.
Make Time for Strategic Projects
You hired the people on your IT team for a reason — they were the right people to bring your business to the next level. But if they’re stuck covering the same tasks day-in and day-out just to keep your databases running, you’re missing out on that valuable strategic insight you brought them on-board to drive. Remote database management support lets those people—the big thinkers on your team—do what they were hired to do and bring your business to the next level with projects like mobile adaptability, SaaS, and Business Intelligence.
Yes, the DBA is alive and well and making life so much easier for any business that uses databases (which is all of them). Having the right solution for your company can make everything run smoother, not just your databases. Learn more about this vital IT resource and how to get the most out of your partnership with this complimentary checklist for asking the right questions of your DBA.
