SQL Server DBA Responsibilities

DBA:

        A database administrator (DBA) is a person responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining the database system; establishing policies and procedures pertaining to the management, security, maintenance, and use of the database management system.

SQL Server DBA Responsibilities:

1. Installing or upgrading a SQL Server: Every DBA is responsible for installing SQL Servers or upgrading to an upper version of SQL Server. The DBA should know the difference between different SQL Server editions and install the required edition. He should also understand the licenses required for it.

2. Patching up the SQL Servers: After installing the SQL Server, the DBA must make sure that the SQL Server is properly patched with the correct Service Pack.

3. Database Server Health monitoring: One of the prime responsibility of a DBA is to monitor the database server for smooth operation. Like the processor is optimally utilized, the memory is sufficiently used, etc.

4. Storage availability: The database is saved on physical disk and the DBA needs to make sure that enough space is available for the database growth.

5. Performance tuning & optimization: The database needs to be tuned and optimized on a regular basis by the DBA.

6. Securing the SQL Server database: The data must be secured from unauthorized users, which the DBA makes sure by assigning proper permissions to the authorized users.

7. Backups and restoration: In case the database gets corrupt or if the server goes down, the DBA needs to recover the database with the minimum loss as quick as possible. So, the DBA needs to take the database backups regularly and when required, also needs to restores it.

8. Data transfer: In the current heterogeneous environment, the data may be needed to imported from or exported to different formats, which the DBA needs to do i.e.  SQL Server -  to / from -  Oracle / Sybase / text files / .csv format.

9. Disaster Recovery: The DBA also needs to plan and make strategies for the disaster recovery of SQL Server.

10. Deployment of SQL scripts: The DBA does the SQL code and scripts deployment to the production environment.

11. Maximum uptime of servers: The DBA needs to make sure that the SQL Servers have minimum downtime with no / minimum impact on business.

12. Documentation: This is very necessary which helps all things to be documented and handy for new DBAs or emergencies.

13. Communication: Since the DBA has to interact with different teams, he has to be very good and effective in communication.