A database admninistrator ensures the smooth, secure and efficient running of database engines. Most commercial or government DP systems are “powered” by databases.
Although a programmer may see a database as a simple resource, it is difficult to make this resource efficient and reliable. A database administrator monitors how a database is used, and perform maintenance and optimization to ensure reliability and efficiency. Occasionally, a database administrator works with systems analysts so that a DP system is efficient by design.
To be a successful database administrator, a bachelor’s degree in computer science is a minimum. Many job descriptions require years of experience with various products. Last, but not least, a database administrator must have a solid understanding of many computer theories, such as relational calculus, search algorithms and data structures.
Although the systems administration of a DP system can be out-sourced, the database administration jobs are more difficult to out-source. This is because database administration is very application specific, both in terms of the database engine and the DP system application. As a result, most organizations need to “keep the database administrator close”. This means it is less like to off-shore database administrator jobs.
Due to the complexity of database optimization, it is also more difficult to automate database administration, in general.