Chapter 3 -- Roles and Responsibilities of the Microsoft SQL Server DBA

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Chapter 3

There is no one set of duties for a Microsoft SQL Server database administrator (DBA). Each organization has a different database staff in terms of size and skill set. Some companies have one DBA who is responsible for the entire system, from development through maintenance. Other companies have hundreds of DBAs, and a single DBA has the responsibility for only a small portion of the operation of the system. No particular way is better; each company must do what best meets its needs.

Today database administration is one of the most sought-after and elite occupations in high technology. Good DBAs are always needed, and there never seems to be enough of them. By doing your best and continuing to learn, you will become more and more valuable.

In this chapter, you will see some tips on how to become the best DBA that you can. You will also learn about the basic duties of the SQL Server DBA, as well as more advanced duties. This is by no means an exhaustive list; there might be many more duties that you will be called on to perform. In any case, the DBA must be versatile and must have an even temper. This chapter explores the duties of the DBA and how to best perform those duties.