Database Administrator

Job overview
Information technology? (IT?) ?- the branch of computer technology that has now assumed huge proportions - has laid special emphasis on the need to gather, classify and make easily available masses of facts and information i.e. ?“data?”?.

This has made the administration of the data a very important responsibility and database administrators play a key role in organisations throughout the private and public sectors.

What do people do in this job?
A database administrator analyses the data, consolidates it and ensures that it is functioning properly.

He or she has to build backups, check on the security factors of the database and clarify whether there is any loophole in the system.

This checking is necessary to combat the problem of hacking and other kinds of data theft.

Apart from security concerns, database administrators have to check the performance of the software they work on or build.

They also have to encourage associates to make use of the database, to verify the reliability of the data.

Apart from this they have to maintain a detailed account of the database, - in fact prepare a dictionary of it.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Database administrators require a thorough knowledge of software technology.

They must be well versed in the technicalities they are working with.

Apart from this they need to be able to handle the immense work pressure.

Stress and strain will take a toll on individuals if they are tempted to stray too far from their prescribed tasks?.

What qualifications are needed?
This will depend very much on the size of the organisation.

For big, international companies a database administrator would be well served by a university degree in computer studies, but for smaller concerns a sound knowledge of computers should suffice.