DataOps and the DBA

The reason I am so passionate about this is if the DBA is not part of the solution, I think it is easy to view them as the problem. As data friction and data gravity become more common terms in our vocabulary, the database and data sources are more easy to blame. Enabling businesses to succeed by removing data friction is incredibly powerful and makes the DBA center to success.

Instead of standing in the way of cloud migrations, we become a force to empowering it. Instead of telling developers and testers “No”, we use the tools and features we have discussed in these previous blogs to get them what they need with the click of a button or execution of a single command. Instead of feeling important by impacting project deadlines and scheduled activities, we become experts in new technology that allows us to perform tasks in shorter cycles and with more efficiency.

This will require the DBA to make a few cultural changes. Those that measure their importance solely by the level of impact to other’s productivity will be viewed as a liability, not an asset.

The DBA will need to embrace new technologies, including the cloud, automation, orchestration and scripting outside of standard database focused scripting. They will need to be part of cross department teams, declared by agile development and not by area of expertise grouping, (database, development, operations). They will need to learn to communicate and collaborate more with their team and the stakeholder.

They will need to learn to sell the power of data and demonstrate how it can be as agile and light as other tiers within the technology stack. This is where DataOps comes in using products like the Delphix Data Platform. Virtualizing the data and then creating data pods to develop and test as one package vs. multiple tiers to be managed.

Branching from DevOps to DataOps and recognizing that data is the central point of data friction and then removing it, makes the database administrator of tomorrow one of the most important pieces to business success. The DBA is able to build a bright future for their career and greater revenue while shortening the development cycle. Suddenly, the DBA is no longer the roadblock, but the bridge to everyone’s success.