Value of DBA Outsourcing
I lay here the value of outsourcing Database Administration (DBA) functions as opposed to relying solely on in-house manpower resources. It has been the experience of several clients that I have worked with, that relying solely on in-house DBAs pose some serious difficulties if not outright pains.
Reduced total cost
With outsourced DBA whether on-site or remote, you pay only for the level of service you need. Some sites only need the presence of DBAs occassionally while others need them 24 by 7. Some require regular visits while others prefer on-call basis.
24/7 coverage
If you need a 24 by 7 coverage, you will need at least 4 DBAs on rotation. At any given time, a DBA has to be monitoring the database for any required changes or signs of trouble. These are sites that need quick response to issues or outages. DBAs know immediately when it's a DBA issue. Relying on operator to decide whether to call network support, systems administrator or database administrator may be risky if the cost of downtime is significant. Having a 24 by 7 DBA support increase availability because DBAs can respond quickly and detect warning signs before issues become problems.
Increased availability
Studies have shown that one of the major causes of outage comes for human causes. Technical support including inexperienced DBAs, tend to commit costly mistakes. When they do, they are not able to recover from the outage quickly enough. They also often miss the regular check-ups, or worst, they don't know how to maintain a fully functional and efficient system. Over time, database systems' performance may deteriorate significantly. During these times, an experienced DBA is required.
Flexibility
In today's fast-paced IT environment, companies need the ability to mobilize projects quickly. It's not uncommon that projects do not get started because of lack of key skilled personnel. In many cases, because of recent surge in demand, projects do not have the required database administration expertise. With outsourced DBA functions, you won't have to wait until your DBA position is filled in.
I frequently encounter clients whose projects are put on-hold for lack of in-house technical expertise to implement projects. This happens when DBA leave the company right when the project is about to start and the employer can't hire qualified DBAs quickly enough. Fortunately, in the Philippines, outsource database administration is available.
By: Dondon Vergara
January 19, 2009
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