At the beginning of the twenty-first century, databases carry out a fundamental purpose in all of our lives. You might not be familiar with some of it, but any number of the activities you take for granted are recorded, filed & archived in a number of ways. The sum total of our economy is managed with records from 'databases'. Banks, share values and property records are all huge 'databases' of records, and despite the fact that much of the information is usually saved in physical documents, it is also kept (or indexed) 'digitally' for easy access. When you use a credit card or debit card to make a payment, the information is documented on a Database. In case you wondered why you started receiving discounted vouchers for dog food from your local superstore, then you probably have been buying a few items which suggested that you now, (more that likely), own a pet. Just about all garages (& the police-force) make use of the 'DVLA's' vehicle registration Database to bring up the exact details of any car or truck etc. recorded in the UK. The Capital's congestion charging System, & the Government's road-tax avoidance scheme also take advantage of this information, by working with the road cameras that we see almost everywhere.

We have demonstrated that databases really are a crucial part of our society, so exactly what career-paths exist in this sector? There are 2 major sectors if we look into 'databases' from an IT viewpoint. The 1st calls for the design & construction of the software that 'databases' operate on, and the second involves the management work needed to implement the data kept on them. The term 'DBA', or Database Administrator, is a well known 'acronym' used through-out the I.T. sector. A 'DBA' may generally work for a mid-size or large company, & maintain the day by day procedures of a specific database. They'll handle the processes which have an impact on the information, including security and back up, and work with management to provide reporting - so the organisation can use that intelligence to perform better. The language of Databases is known as 'SQL', which is an acronym for Structured Query Language. DBAs need to have an understanding of this language so that they can interrogate the Database & extract the necessary information.

Oracle & SQL Server from Microsoft are the leading Database Systems in the world right now. Oracle is a mature system that is still in use on large-scale installations, but SQL Server is a lot more prevalent now in regular commercial-environments; 'SQL' has grown to be the de-facto norm for Databases on the net. Of course, as SQL Server is owned by Microsoft, the organisation has incorporated it into each of its platforms and programs. For all those trying to become commercially certified therefore, it's the obvious path to consider. Certifications have now been up-dated, and the 'MCDBA' (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) has been superceded by the MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) and the 'MCTS' ('Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist'). 'SQL' Server 2008 is gaining some momentum, but it isn't widely employed in the commercial environment yet. Because of this, the 'MCITP' DBA training uses the more popular SQL Server 2005. In order to obtain the complete 'MCITP' certification, various 'MCTS' modules have to be done first.

If it's the development area of Databases that appeals to you, the 'MCITP' DB-Developer from MS will suit your needs. This will handle a lot of preliminary design, rationalisation and set-up of databases, but it doesn't essentially stretch to full database programming. It's best to check out the programming section of this web site if you're interested in that aspect of databases. As a whole, you will find there's a very much bigger concentration from both students & employers on the administration of databases. Should you be exploring the DB Developer path, it makes more sense to incorporate that certification as part of a programming training track. As time proceeds on, you should also give some thought to taking the MCTS accreditation in SQL Server '08.

It's a good idea if you are just starting out to begin your career track with a training program software-support. Software support will give you some lower level skills, to help you get your first foot on the ladder, plus provide you with an insight into a further valuable side of the industry. A very good package for a new starter is the MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician). If you then accompany this accreditation with the 'MCTS' and the 'MCITP', you'll have completed a complete career track that should generally take around 500 hrs to achieve. Although, of course, we advocate caution prior to making any kind of decisions in isolation. Obtain advice from a professional specialist to be sure that you are starting the right program to suit you, in terms of learning-style & choice of career. If you don't concentrate totally on exactly where you want to get to, you might find yourself way off track and thousands of pounds worse off!

Both DBA's and DB developers are typically highly systematic and organised men and women, who pay a great interest in the details, and appreciate doing work in smaller teams, or alone. Very good communication skills are an advantage, since there'll be consistent interaction with more senior managers. Handling an organisation's Databases is quite a responsible job - & safety and security is continually evolving into a bigger factor in this area. Professional confidentiality will be essential, and a substantial amount of trust and personal integrity will be envisioned by the organisation. Professionals from business and accounting backgrounds tend to make good DBA's, & in many cases the job is a stepping-stone to a more senior career in the business chain of command.

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