Written by: Karen Anthony
In the modern world of big data and the internet of things, data is the lifeblood of any business enterprise, which also means that taking care of your data well can take your business to more heights. Whether your enterprise uses databases like MSSQL, MySQL SQL Server, Db2, Oracle, PostgreSQL, or the NoSQL DBs, it is the database support’s quality DBMS maintenance and the protection of your database play a vital role in your overall business plan.
It is not just enough to find an excellent partner to maintain your database system, but it is all about finding a trustable partner to ensure that your database is left is safe and expert hands. Peak performance and optimum security are the premier directives of remote DBA services. Any service you avail of the database administration should act as an extension of your team. This is the real game-changer approach in outsourcing database administration services. Doing this well can change your selection criteria from a random vendor who offers DBA services to the exact one who can maintain a business partnership with you over time and be there as a part of your on-demand.
If you search for a long-term partner for database administration, there are many things to consider than just the services and products they offer. So, while the search for DBA service vendors, here are some considerations you should essentially make.
Factors to choose an apt DBA service
- Capabilities of the DBA provider
While considering the database administration services, you have to evaluate the following things at the first point:
- Experience of the vendor in critical DBA services
- Expertise and skillset of the consultants working under the provider
- Stability of the provider business.
- The guarantee is offered to meet your requirements.
- Cost parameters.
When it comes to remote DBA services, the skillset and expertise may vary from provider to provider. Your role is to precisely define your use case based on the company objectives and the database requirements to match it with the provider’s previous experience and expertise. If you find them handling similar organizations or matching use cases of yours, the services they provide in remote DBA or DBaaS may be apt for you.
- The breadth of technical expertise
As mentioned in the above point, always try to understand the breadth of the technological expertise available with the provider. A professional remote DBA service will have the following experts with a high level of experience and advanced skills:
- Database administrators with knowledge of both SQL and NoSQL DBs.
- Database designers with corporate DBMS design experience.
- Database architects with exposure to high-level projects.
- Database monitor experts who have the skillset on real-time monitoring tools and reporting mechanisms.
- Troubleshooters with technology skills and experience in handling various troubleshooting projects.
- Support professionals offering 24×7 time-critical support to the clients.
- Getting access to experts
While considering remote DBAs, always analyze the vendors’ access to industry experts in different database technologies and allied technologies. When it comes to outsourcing tasks related to the IT infrastructure and environment built on standard front-line technologies, the vendors without tie-ups or association with the technology providers will offer some add-on value beyond just database services. For reliable and value-added remote database administration services, check out the options by RemoteDBA.com.
- Ability to deliver faster and better
When you consider a professional database administration service, it is always advisable to review their ability to meet your on-demand needs. When it comes to database administration, you need to ideally have a 24×7 on-demand support and round-the-clock monitoring of your database functions. A reliable backup process in place and anytime on-demand restoration also should be ensured.
- Resolution of issues
While considering a database administration vendor, always assess how the vendor handled typical downtimes in their historical situations and check out the previously held issues’ average resolution times. You may always want your database to be in safe hands, no matter the problems you will face.
- Dedicated DBAs
Always evaluate the database administration consultants assigned to your project and ensure they know well about your unique IT environment, objectives of your business and database administration process, the kind of technological infrastructure and the user group you have, etc. Along with these, make sure that you have direct access to your DBA consultant or team anytime on-demand.
- Consistency in performance
As mentioned in the first point, you should also ensure the consistency in the DBA provider’s service to assess the reliability and capabilities. Check the provider’s ability to deliver performance management proactively, handle the administrative tasks, and execute other essential duties.
- Trusted guidance
One of the primary objectives of outsourcing a technology process to a third-party vendor is to take advantage of their expertise-based guidance when you are in need. So, it is essential to determine what level of competency the provider maintains in recommending insightful strategies and actions to sustain proper DB functionality, enhance the same for better business results, etc. with the application performance, uptime, and scalability guarantees they offer.
- Scalability
Database scalability is an essential need for modern-day databases. However, when considering a DBA, it is not just scaling up and down the database but check out if the vendor can offer scalability in terms of the service, tools, and support provides as and when you need it. Most of the DBAs now offer DBaaS (database as a service), which means you only need to pay for what you use and can also club additional services to your existing package anytime required to scale it up.
- Flexibility
Finally, always explore your vendor’s flexibility customizing the solutions to fit your budget and business goals rightly. Also, ensure on-demand consultation and support regarding the same.
With a myriad of qualified providers available in the remote DBA industry, it may not be difficult for you to find out the cost of practical solutions in remote database administration. The professional DBA consultants now also offer Data Warehousing, managed IT services, Business Intelligence services, Data Governance, Data Strategy, cloud services, etc.
