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The Rising Risks to the Role of the DBA | Data and Technology Today
The role of the Database Administrator (DBA) has always been critical to enterprise computing, ensuring data integrity, performance, security, and availability. However, the evolving IT landscape is introducing new threats that directly impact DBAs, from automation-driven job displacement to increasing security and compliance pressures. Let’s explore the major risks DBAs face today and how they…
Python Essentials You Always Wanted to Know | Data and Technology Today
Python has emerged as one of the most important programming languages in the age of big data due to several key characteristics that align well with the demands of data processing, analysis, and visualization. Several of Python's strengths include its versatility, ease of use, and the vast ecosystem of tools that cater to data analysis…
Hybrid Cloud Strategy Requires On-Premises Consideration | Data and Technology Today
Cloud computing continues to grab all the headlines, but on-premises IT infrastructure remains vitally important and will continue to be well into the future. Even as they move workload to the cloud, most organizations plan to increase investments in their on-premises computing infrastructure. Although these assertions have long been my opinion, they are also backed…
DBA New Year’s Resolutions for 2025 | Data and Technology Today
The new year is always a good time to stop, reassess, and make resolutions for the upcoming year. With that in mind, as we step into 2025, let's examine some good resolutions for database administrators (DBAs) to enhance efficiency, security, and performance in their database management practices. 1. Embrace Automation Automation is no longer a…
Happy Holidays 2024! | Data and Technology Today
Well, here it is December 2024, and we are nearing the end of yet another year. So, as has been my custom, the last blog post of the year is always one that wishes everybody Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays! Some people wonder why I post generically like that, instead of wishing people a happy…
Parquet vs. Iceberg | Data and Technology Today
Parquet and Iceberg are both open source offerings delivered under the Apache license. This type of license gives users a wide range of permissions to use, modify, distribute, and sublicense the software, with minimal restrictions. You can use software with an Apache license for any purpose: personal, internal or external, and commercial. This flexibility makes…
Open Source DBA Challenges | Data and Technology Today
Open-source database administration offers many benefits but also presents some challenges, particularly when compared to proprietary systems. Here are some areas where open-source DBAs may find limitations: 1. Enterprise-Level Support and SLAs Weakness: Unlike commercial databases, which offer direct support from vendors, most open-source databases rely on community support, forums, or third-party service providers. This…
A Comprehensive Guide to Information Modeling and Relational Databases | Data and Technology Today
“Information Modeling and Relational Databases” by Terry Halpin and Tony Morgan is a nice resource for anyone seeking a deep understanding of information modeling and its application to relational databases. In this, the third edition of the book, the authors provide thorough coverage of several information modeling approaches, including object-role modeling (ORM), entity-relationship (ER) modeling,…
Stop Making These SQL Coding Mistakes! | Data and Technology Today
Structured Query Language (SQL) is not only the most popular data access language, it is one of the most popular programming languages period! According to the September 2024 Tiobe Index, which ranks the popularity of programming languages, SQL ranks number 9. Yet, despite its pervasive use, many programmers often find themselves tripping over the same…
Confusing Workplace Abbreviations? | Data and Technology Today
I recently got an email from a research company (Journo Research) sharing the most confusing workplace abbreviations. So I thought, hey, why not compose a short blog post using all of the top 10 most confusing abbreviations and share it to see who, if anybody, is confused by it! So, I wrote this post --…
DBMS versus Database: Do You Know the Difference? | Data and Technology Today
What is a database? I bet most people reading this post believe they know the answer to that question. But many of them would be wrong. For example, Db2 is not a database, it is a DBMS, or Database Management System. You can use Db2 to create a database, but Db2, in and of itself,…
Use DBA Tools to Assure Efficient Data Management | Data and Technology Today
Although it is generally accepted that database administration is required to ensure the efficient and proper design and care of the data in production databases, oftentimes something is missing to do the job effectively. No DBMS delivers 100% of the functionality needed to support large-scale enterprise database development. Fortunately, many data management tools are available…
A Review of the VANTRUE Nexus 4 Pro Smart Dash Cam | Data and Technology Today
The VANTRUE Nexus 4 Pro smart dash cam is a nifty little device that can help to improve vehicle security and provide driving assistance. With its advanced features, sleek design, and user-friendly interface, it is a compelling option for both casual drivers and enthusiasts alike. Design and Build Quality One of the first things you'll…
Understanding Database Lock Timeouts and Deadlocks | Data and Technology Today
Designing and implementing a proper database for application development is a complex and time-consuming task. The choices made during database and application design will impact the usefulness of the final, delivered application. Indeed, an improperly designed database or application may need to be redesigned and recoded from scratch if it is inefficient, ineffective, or not…
Data Lake vs. Data Warehouse | Data and Technology Today
There is one thing we can say for certain about the IT and computer industry – we sure love creating new terms and categories… even when, it can be argued, that we don’t need them. And even when new terms might be useful, it sure can be difficult to come to grips with them. Especially…
Seasons Greetings 2023 | Data and Technology Today
We have entered the holiday season 2023. Did you know there are nearly two dozen different holidays and celebrations observed from the end of October through the beginning of January every year? With that in mind, I like to make an annual post wishing well to everyone who celebrates any (or all) of these festivities!…
My Latest Book: Mainframe Specialty Processors | Data and Technology Today
Today's post will be brief... just to announce my latest book. It does have relevance to data, but only for IBM System Z mainframe shops. The book is titled: Mainframe Specialty Processors: Understanding zIIPs, Licensing, and Cost Savings on the IBM System z. And the title pretty much sums up the content of the book.…
Q+A: Upgrading the Company DBMS | Data and Technology Today
I regularly receive questions from readers and every now and then I choose one to highlight here on the blog. Today, I want to share a Q+A from a reader/student asking for guidance on things a company should consider when upgrading their DBMS... Question: I am writing a company proposal on a technical issue of…
My Recent Data-Related Articles on Elnion | Data and Technology Today
Today's post is a short one intended to let my readers know about the articles that I have written for Elnion on data and database related topics. First of all, what is Elnion? Elnion is a web-based research portal for IT and related technology news and information. Published by Sociaall.com, the core topics it covers…
Optimizing Database Performance | Data and Technology Today
Last week I was proud to publish my latest database book, this time on the important topic of achieving and maintaining efficient performance for your databases and the applications that access them. Appropriately enough, this book is titled Optimizing Database Performance, and it is available now in both print and ebook formats on amazon. So…
Database Performance versus Scalability | Data and Technology Today
Database performance and scalability are both important aspects of managing and optimizing databases, but they refer to different characteristics and considerations. Database performance refers to how efficiently a database system can respond to and process queries, transactions, and other operations. It is focused on the speed, responsiveness, and overall efficiency of database operations. Factors that…
Perhaps The Most Important Data Management Issue Today | Data and Technology Today
Although there are many important issues that organizations are struggling with regarding data and data management these days, few would argue that securing and protecting their data is not among the most vital. With the increasing reliance on digital systems and the proliferation of sensitive data, organizations face significant challenges in protecting their databases from…
The Impact of Row Size on Query Performance | Data and Technology Today
As part of my job as a database consultant, I regularly keep my eyes open for interesting topics in relevant blogs and forums. Recently, one interaction caught my eye, where somebody asked what kind of a performance impact could be expected if a query was issued against two similar tables. The first table had (say)…
From Data to Knowledge and Beyond | Data and Technology Today
The basic building block of knowledge is data. Data is a fact represented out of context and with no relation to other facts. Examples of data are: 27 JAN 010110 Without additional details, we know nothing about any of these three pieces of data. Consider: Is 27 a number in base ten, or is it…
Strategies for Managing Database Growth and Scalability | Data and Technology Today
Managing database growth and scalability is crucial to ensure optimal performance and accommodate increasing data volumes. Here are some strategies to consider: Proper Database Design: Design your database schema with scalability in mind. Normalize the database structure, define appropriate relationships, and establish efficient indexing to support efficient data retrieval and manipulation. Horizontal Partitioning (Sharding): Splitting…
The Impact of Cloud Computing on Database Administration | Data and Technology Today
The DBA is the information technology professional responsible for ensuring the ongoing operational functionality and efficiency of an organization’s databases and the applications that access those databases. Traditionally, DBAs are reqiored to be an expert on “all things” related to a particular database management system (DBMS), such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM Db2, or…
Database Administration: Neither Simple nor Easy! | Data and Technology Today
The words "simple" and "easy" are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. And regardless of those meaning, neither can be ascribed to DBAs! "Simple" refers to something that is not complex, not difficult to understand, or not difficult to do. It implies that something is straightforward, uncomplicated, and easy to follow. For example,…
The Future of Data Technology: Trends and Predictions for 2023 | Data and Technology Today
As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the importance of data technology continues to grow. From artificial intelligence (AI) to the internet of things (IoT), new innovations are emerging every day. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the biggest trends and predictions for data technology in 2023. Edge Computing: With…
On Becoming a DBA | Data and Technology Today
One of the most common questions I am asked is: How can I become a DBA? The answer, of course, depends a lot on what you are currently doing. Programmers who have developed applications using a database system are usually best-suited to becoming a DBA. They already know some of the trials and tribulations that…
A Bibliography of Database Books | Data and Technology Today
The following bibliography is culled from the second edition of my book, Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures. This listing of books was used as research material for the book, but also as suggested further reading for interested readers to dig into. I have made no attempt to update this list,…
Get Your DBA Planner for 2023! | Data and Technology Today
I have published a 2023 planner specifically designed for DBAs to help them navigate the upcoming year. Get your copy now and be prepared early for 2023. DBA Planner 2023 This is a weekly calendar where each page contains a week with 7 daily blocks. There is ample space for notes and meeting details. The…
Rules for Ensuring Beautiful Views | Data and Technology Today
One of the most debated areas of relational database development has been when and how to create and use views. Some analysts promote the liberal creation and usage of views, whereas others preach a more conservative approach. When properly implemented and managed, views can be useful for easing data access and simplifying development efforts. Although…
Best Practices for Upgrading DBMS Versions | Data and Technology Today
Change is a fact of life and each of the major DBMS products introduces changes quite frequently. A typical release cycle for DBMS software is 18 to 36 months for major releases with constant bug fixes and maintenance delivered in between major releases. As such, keeping DBMS software up-to-date can be almost a full-time job.…
My Recent Published Data Articles and “Stuff” | Data and Technology Today
Just a short blog post today to refer my faithful blog readers to some other material that I have recently written that may be of interest! First of all, I have written a series of articles on the IBM Z zIIP specialty processor for CloudFrame. This series of 8 articles discusses various aspects of using,…
A Few Good SQL Book Recommendations | Data and Technology Today
Every professional programmer that accesses data in a relational/SQL database should have a good book (or four) on SQL... Actually, the same goes for DBAs because they also regularly use SQL in their day-to-day work. There are many SQL books to choose from, and many of them are very good. Here are four of my…
Reducing MIPS and Mainframe Software Costs with CloudFrame | Data and Technology Today
There is no denying that mainframe computing can be costly. The hardware alone can cost several million US dollars, and over time the software can be just as, if not more costly. As such, reducing mainframe software costs is an important goal for every organization that uses the platform. Please note that I am not…
Let’s Create the Future with IBM Using Data, AI, and Cloud | Data and Technology Today
This post is sponsored by IBM As IT professionals, creation is what we do. Every day developers are writing new code to make it easier to run our business, or writing (creating) code to maintain existing systems. DBAs are creating new databases and structures, as well as creating new ways of making sure vital corporate…
I Will be A Regular Contributor on Data Management Topics for Elnion | Data and Technology Today
Just a short blog post today to let my readers know that I will be contributing to elnion as a data management content provider. Elnion is a thought leadership site for technology news and issues, with a focus on cloud, data, the digital enterprise, and more. It was founded by well-known social influencer Dez Blanchfield.…
Let’s Talk About Database Performance Analyzer | Data and Technology Today
Recently, I published a tweet thread on database performance and SolarWinds’ Database Performance Analyzer. Today’s blog post captures those tweets for posterity! Let’s talk about #DatabasePerformance and SolarWinds (Tweet #1) Applications that access relational databases are only as good as the performance they achieve. And, every user wants their software to run as fast as…
Bad Database Standards | Data and Technology Today
Several years ago I wrote a series of blog posts on bad database standards, that is, things you should avoid doing when creating the standards for your organization regarding database systems and development. These posts, although over a decade old now, are still relevant, so I thought I'd post an index linking to the articles…