what is database administration

Database administration is the function of managing and maintaining database management systems (DBMS) software. A database administrator (DBA) is responsible for maintaining, securing, and operating databases and ensuring that data is correctly stored and retrieved. The specific responsibilities of a database administrator vary depending on the size and needs of the organization they work for, but most DBA duties include developing and maintaining databases, ensuring data security, tuning performance, backing up data, and providing training and support to users. Some common and useful skills for database administrators are knowledge of database queries, database design, and data modeling. Database administrators benefit from a bachelors degree or masters degree in computer science, but an associate degree or a certificate may be sufficient with work experience. There are many certifications available for becoming a certified database administrator, and many of these certifications are offered by database vendors themselves. The role of a database administrator has evolved significantly with the advent of cloud computing services, such as the DBaaS model, that provide some of the tasks heretofore provided primarily by DBAs.