I just read Thomas LaRock's article, How to become an effective database administrator, published on ITProPortal. I like his list of five things database administrators (DBAs) should "understand and embrace" to be effective in today's world of complex databases. These key five objectives are:
1. Gain a full understanding of your organization's business objectives
2. Become a security expert
3. Know how to maintain availability and continuity
4. Understand the cloud
5. Improve response time
I recommend you read the full article for great tips. Others have compiled similar lists. Back in 2005, Joshua Guttman, listed the following 9 Habits of Highly Effective DBAs:
- Make a backup
- Use transactions
- Stop highlighting
- Know your connection
- Stay out of isolation
- Stay on top of your tables
- Stay out of Table Designer
- Alter, don't destroy
- Look before you leap
Here are two more articles on what makes a good DBA. In 8 Traits of Highly Effective DBAs, by Ayman El-Ghazali and published by Infusive Solutions, Inc., he lists the following eight skills needed for effective DBAs:
- Know your servers (what they do, what apps they support, their names)
- Be proactive with maintenance and disaster recovery
- Understand the business needs behind the servers you support
- Understand the ecosystem of the computing world
- Use business intelligence (BI) tools
- Keep your database secure
- Know how to do development
- Have the ability to do the DBA work without the GUI
- Be nice to people (Bonus tip)
In 5 Ways to Be a More Effective DBA Today, John Sansom (aka SQLBrit) says these five things will help you be a more effective DBA:
- Know why your role exists
- Get organized
- Learn something new every day
- Improve something
- Attend you local SQL Server User Group
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What's missing from these lists? Let me know if you have an idea that hasn't been mentioned that you believe is important to your success as a DBA.
