As more and more data moves to the cloud, the role of the Database Administrator (DBA) has been called into question more than a few times. There’s no denying that the cloud and the wave of digital transformation it has brought with it has changed how many companies do business. And the databases that support that transformation have certainly been impacted as well.

And just as the databases have undergone their cloud transformation, so too must the DBAs that manage them. So while the day to day for this vital role may look different from what it once was, it’s still just as crucial as ever.

The New (And Not-So-New) World of the DBA

Regardless of how the cloud changes the precise processes, the core tasks of the DBA will always be vital to the health of your Oracle, SQL Server, or NoSQL database environments. What is changing is how they are performed, and the newer technologies with which they are delivered. Here are just a few of the shifts happening in the world of the DBA:

Less Hardware - With the increasing adoption of the cloud, modern DBAs provision what the business needs that day rather than for a piece of physical hardware that is supposed to last three to four years.

More Flexible Demand Cycles - Modern Database Administrators are also extremely aware of their organizations’ demand cycles and make use of the bursting capability of cloud to successfully accommodate a surge in demand.

Managing More Complex Data Environments - As the cloud continues to transform businesses across sectors by simplifying user experiences, databases will only get more intricate with the introduction of new tools and infrastructures.

A Need for Broader Skill Sets - With the adoption of cloud services continuing to increase worldwide, Database Admins whose expertise is 100% based on operational tasks need to broaden their skill set or they risk becoming obsolete (along with the business they support).

Ultimately a good DBA must be a jack-of-all-trades. Your databases touch all areas of the enterprise, your Database Administrator is effectively on call for the applications of the entire organization.

And even after your Oracle, SQL Server, or NoSQL databases are up and running smoothly in the cloud, there is still work to be done to make sure your databases continue to operate at their best. That’s why the role of the DBA is just as important as ever.

What’s even more important? Finding the right database management solution for your company. That’s because in reality having an in-house DBA to manage your databases isn’t always possible or even ideal for many businesses. Having database management options that can meet the unique needs and budget of your organization is a must. That’s why we outlined the top solutions in our “Definitive Guide to Database Management.”

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If you are looking for an expert to help you think through your business’ database management challenges (whether Oracle, SQL Server, NoSQL, etc.), we’d love to chat with you.