This article provides a reflection on the ethics required by a database administrator (DBA). This philosophical code of behaviour sets out the principles for the profession. The DBA ethics storyboard is a visualization of the ethics and is shown in figure1.
Figure 1 DBA Ethics Storyboard
Ethic 1 DBA - the role of a DBA requires
• a person who is a database advocate
• being proactive rather than reactive
• having numerous interconnected responsibilities
• clear communication with all the interconnected technologists
• making recommendations to the public
• that if a mistake is made corrective action needs to be taken immediately
• to exercise governance and agility
Ethic 2 DATA
• the data the organizations hold is the most precious asset it has. A DBA must protect it
• the quality of the data should be maintained
• all types of data whether structured or unstructured need looking after
• data is retained and archived appropriately
Ethic 3 SECURITY - a DBA is responsible for
• making data available to authorized users and ensuring data it is inaccessible to the unauthorized user
• identification of sensitive data, managing it securely and auditing access
• patching and a DBA should have a patching philosophy to prevent security issues arising
Ethic 4 ARCHITECTURE - a DBA should
• ensure good data modelling and design techniques are used
• use the right database application for the requirements
• have an entity relationship diagram should for each database
• have a master data management process to define and manage entities
Ethic 5 DEVELOPMENT - a DBA should ensure
• the development scripts written are version controlled
• coding standards are followed
• the scripts include a description of the tasks
Ethic 6 AVAILABILITY- a DBA should
• monitor the system to ensure it is always available when it is needed
• regularly review error logs
• manage scheduling and job success rate
• ensure there is a capacity management process in place
• ensure good performance is maintained
Ethic 7 DISASTER RECOVERY - a DBA should ensure
• backups are taken regularly and regularly verify the quality of the said backups
• every database has a documented disaster recovery plan.
• that a recovery time objective and a recovery point objective are defined
• backups are stored offsite
• a server configuration snapshot is stored offsite
Ethic 8 CHANGE - a DBA should
• monitor changes to the system
• follow processes for management.
• have a multiple tier environment to validate changes
• have a risk assessment strategy
• ensure rollback can occur for failed changes
• identify the consequences of a change
• have a verification process to determine if the change was successful
Ethic 9 PROBLEMS
• have a process for problem management
Ethic 10 DOCUMENT - a DBA should ensure
• appropriate documentation is written or obtained
• a summary of essential information such as configuration information be created
• there is a process for keeping the documentation up to date and reviewed regularly
• a self-documenting system is created where possible
Ethic 11 AUDITING - a DBA should ensure there are regular database audits which
• periodically audit each database and provide a health check
• have a predefined checklist to follow
• have a description of the purpose of each check
Ethic 12 BEST PRACTICE- a DBA should
• follow best practice for design, development and administration based on vendor recommendations, practical field experience, database usergroups, and environmental constraints
• aim for standardization and automation
Ethic 13 IMPROVEMENT- a DBA should
• reflect and iterate throughout the database system
• have a documented database roadmap
Chaos, complexity, curiosity and database systems. A place where research meets industry
Welcome
Passionately curious about Data, Databases and Systems Complexity. Data is ubiquitous, the database universe is dichotomous (structured and unstructured), expanding and complex. Find my Database Research at SQLToolkit.co.uk . Microsoft Data Platform MVP
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing" Einstein
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing" Einstein
Monday 11 July 2011
SQL Denali links
Microsoft Tech Days UK 2011
A webcasts from uk tech days sharing details about Denali features
http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/gb/details/f3cf3282-efca-478c-bb74-cd3e588c4733
SQL Server Denali CTP3
Download at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/hh225126.aspx
SQL Server Denali Resource Center
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/denali_resource_center.aspx
SQL Server Denali Upgrade Assistant
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-upgrade-assistant-tool-for-denali.aspx
What's New (SQL Server Denali)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500435%28v=SQL.110%29.aspx
A webcasts from uk tech days sharing details about Denali features
http://www.microsoft.com/showcase/en/gb/details/f3cf3282-efca-478c-bb74-cd3e588c4733
SQL Server Denali CTP3
Download at: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/hh225126.aspx
SQL Server Denali Resource Center
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/denali_resource_center.aspx
SQL Server Denali Upgrade Assistant
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/sql-server-upgrade-assistant-tool-for-denali.aspx
What's New (SQL Server Denali)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500435%28v=SQL.110%29.aspx
Wednesday 6 July 2011
More SQL Server 2008 Reading
More articles to read to expand your SQL knowledge which may help through the administration certification process.
Configuring linked servers for delegation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189580.aspx
Linking Servers
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188279.aspx
Distributed Queries
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188721.aspx
Guidelines for using Distributed Queries
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175129.aspx
Troubleshooting SQL Server 2005/2008 Query Performance/Scalability Issues
http://sqlcat.com/files/folders/280/download.aspx
A cheat sheet for SQL Server developers
http://www.dotnet4all.com/snippets/2008/04/factsheet-for-sql-server-developers.html
http://www.pinaldave.com/sql-download/SQLServerCheatSheet.pdf
Filestream Overview
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933993.aspx
Using filestream with other SQL Server Features
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb895334.aspx
Administering Servers by using Policy Based Management
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb510667.aspx
Kerberos Authentication and SQL Server
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280744.aspx
Alter Database Set options
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522682.aspx
DDL Triggers and Logon triggers
http://blogs.technet.com/b/vipulshah/archive/2007/12/04/ddl-triggers-and-logon-triggers.aspx
Introduction to Change Data Capture in SQL Server 2008
http://www.bradmcgehee.com/2010/04/an-introduction-to-sql-server-2008-change-data-capture/
Enabling change data capture
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc627369.aspx
Examples of Restore Sequences for Several Restore Scenarios
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190960.aspx
Policy Based Management Security
http://sqlserver-qa.net/blogs/sql2008/archive/2009/02/23/4979.aspx
http://sqlserver-qa.net/blogs/sql2008/archive/2008/10/13/4895.aspx
Generic T-SQL Query Collector Type
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630356.aspx
Max degree of Parallelism option
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181007%28SQL.90%29.aspx
Ownership chains
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188676.aspx
Trustworthy database property
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187861.aspx
Using Mirrored Backup Media Sets
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175053.aspx
Verifying backups
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189587.aspx
Considerations for restoring the model and msdb database
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190749.aspx
Resource Governor concepts
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb934084.aspx
Distributed Transactions
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188386.aspx
How it works SQL Server 2005 NUMA Basics
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2008/01/24/how-it-works-sql-server-2005-numa-basics.aspx
How to Configure SQL Server to use soft NUMA
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345357.aspx
Alter server configuration
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210585.aspx
Understanding how to set the sql server I/O Affinity Option
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298402
How it works IO Affinity mask should I use it
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2010/11/19/how-it-works-io-affinity-mask-should-i-use-it.aspx
How it works soft NUMA I/O completion thread. lazy writer workers and memory nodes
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2010/04/02/how-it-works-soft-numa-i-o-completion-thread-lazy-writer-workers-and-memory-nodes.aspx
Filestream Design and Implementation Considerations
http://sqlcat.com/whitepapers/archive/2011/02/22/filestream-design-and-implementation-considerations.aspx
Introducing the sql server 2008 performance data collector
http://www.bradmcgehee.com/wp-content/uploads/presentations/Mastering%20the%20SQL%20Server%202008%20Performance%20Data%20Collector.pdf
Configuring linked servers for delegation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189580.aspx
Linking Servers
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188279.aspx
Distributed Queries
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188721.aspx
Guidelines for using Distributed Queries
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175129.aspx
Troubleshooting SQL Server 2005/2008 Query Performance/Scalability Issues
http://sqlcat.com/files/folders/280/download.aspx
A cheat sheet for SQL Server developers
http://www.dotnet4all.com/snippets/2008/04/factsheet-for-sql-server-developers.html
http://www.pinaldave.com/sql-download/SQLServerCheatSheet.pdf
Filestream Overview
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933993.aspx
Using filestream with other SQL Server Features
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb895334.aspx
Administering Servers by using Policy Based Management
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb510667.aspx
Kerberos Authentication and SQL Server
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280744.aspx
Alter Database Set options
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522682.aspx
DDL Triggers and Logon triggers
http://blogs.technet.com/b/vipulshah/archive/2007/12/04/ddl-triggers-and-logon-triggers.aspx
Introduction to Change Data Capture in SQL Server 2008
http://www.bradmcgehee.com/2010/04/an-introduction-to-sql-server-2008-change-data-capture/
Enabling change data capture
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc627369.aspx
Examples of Restore Sequences for Several Restore Scenarios
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190960.aspx
Policy Based Management Security
http://sqlserver-qa.net/blogs/sql2008/archive/2009/02/23/4979.aspx
http://sqlserver-qa.net/blogs/sql2008/archive/2008/10/13/4895.aspx
Generic T-SQL Query Collector Type
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb630356.aspx
Max degree of Parallelism option
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181007%28SQL.90%29.aspx
Ownership chains
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188676.aspx
Trustworthy database property
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187861.aspx
Using Mirrored Backup Media Sets
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175053.aspx
Verifying backups
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189587.aspx
Considerations for restoring the model and msdb database
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms190749.aspx
Resource Governor concepts
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb934084.aspx
Distributed Transactions
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms188386.aspx
How it works SQL Server 2005 NUMA Basics
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2008/01/24/how-it-works-sql-server-2005-numa-basics.aspx
How to Configure SQL Server to use soft NUMA
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms345357.aspx
Alter server configuration
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee210585.aspx
Understanding how to set the sql server I/O Affinity Option
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298402
How it works IO Affinity mask should I use it
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2010/11/19/how-it-works-io-affinity-mask-should-i-use-it.aspx
How it works soft NUMA I/O completion thread. lazy writer workers and memory nodes
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2010/04/02/how-it-works-soft-numa-i-o-completion-thread-lazy-writer-workers-and-memory-nodes.aspx
Filestream Design and Implementation Considerations
http://sqlcat.com/whitepapers/archive/2011/02/22/filestream-design-and-implementation-considerations.aspx
Introducing the sql server 2008 performance data collector
http://www.bradmcgehee.com/wp-content/uploads/presentations/Mastering%20the%20SQL%20Server%202008%20Performance%20Data%20Collector.pdf
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