Editorials

Why You Should Care About the Application DBA Role

Featured Article(s)
Undocumented Miscellaneous SQL Server 2008 Extended Stored Procedures
In this article, Alexander Chigrik describes some useful undocumented miscellaneous SQL Server 2008 extended stored procedures.

New SelectViews Show Available Now
Application DBAs, the Cloud and SQL Server/SharePoint, Government Challenges with Social Media. Also, the SQL Server Tip, SSWUG.ORG news, SharePoint news and more.
[Watch the Show Now]

Why You Should Care About the Application DBA Role
Sometimes people wonder how I get going on some of these seemingly odd tangents for the database professional… (sometimes?! <g>) and I wanted to explain about this particular one that we’ve been discussing because I think it’s a critical window into where the DBA positions and roles are going.

There are some key indicators that are giving very strong hints and direction as to where things are going with information, and therefore with the traditional roles of DBAs and data professionals. Take a look at this article from the AP – and think about how this applies to what you’re doing with SQL Server. More than backups, this is going to be all about performance, about tuning and about understanding how tools apply to the databases you’re keeping track of.

The data growth, planning, support and performance implications of devices and applications generating information are staggering. Add to that the nervous feeling you may be experiencing right now when you think about the privacy implications. Yep, security and encryption are going to be key (pardon the pun) and understanding how you can have a high-performing system while at the same time making it secure will be a huge responsibility.

This moves beyond learning how to build reports. It moves beyond tuning as we know it today. It means understanding indexes, understand how information is added to your servers so you can make sure that the information that is stored there can be correctly retrieved. Understanding *automated* processes that are digitally creating information and data elements and then storing them is going to very quickly become a major contributor to your databases I think.

What do you think? Is this the major direction of things on a grander scale?

Email me here, let me know if I’m all wet…

The Accidental DBA Virtual Workshop
Our next virtual workshop will be Weds Dec 30 – on that slow week over the holidays, it’s a great opportunity to tune your skills about what you need to know as an accidental DBA. People are constantly writing for where to start, where to go to learn, where to find out what’s important with SQL Server… this is the place. It’s a great way to tune your skills or learn about the essentials – both are presented. I’ll be there taking questions, making sure you get the information you need, live during the workshop. MUCH more information on the site, check it out here:

[Get more information] or [Register for the virtual workshop]

You can even get a hi-res DVD of the entire workshop. Check it out when you get a minute.

Featured White Paper(s)
Virtual Architecture for Microsoft SharePoint Server
People use information to drive business outcomes. These outcomes include developing customer relationships, driving innovati… (read more)