Why Should a Business Outsource a Database Administrator?

Valenta > Blogs > Why Should a Business Outsource a Database Administrator?
Outsource a Database Administrator (2)

There are many reasons why a business would want an outsourced Database Administrator. Many businesses today are involved in the Information Economy. Even those that are not typically have to deal with massive amounts of customer data, inventory data, claims, invoices, you name it. All of that adds up to piles of data and massive databases.

Large enterprises can pay top dollar for staff. Midsized companies and small business can sometimes struggle to secure database administrator personnel. Outsourced database administrator services can be an excellent way for midsized and small business to get needed skills in the areas of database administration in the virtual door and to do so at a cost that meets their budget requirements.

In this article we will cover why database administrator staff augmentation can be a great option. We will discuss the role of a database administrator, what they can do for a business, why it can make sense to secure outsourced database administrator services, and how to outsource database administrators.

What does a Database Administrator Do?

According to job post site Indeed, this is what a Database Administrator does.

Often referred to as a DBA, a database administrator is a vital part of the IT staff in any company. A database administrator is responsible for ensuring that employees have reliable access to company data and applications. Most database administrators work in data processing companies, but database administrators also find employment in insurance companies, universities, healthcare providers and banks.

We agree with this description. A database administrator is certainly responsible for all the above day to day activities. They are also responsible for staying current on technology trends and vendors. They are responsible for implementing new software solutions as needed. Much of the information contained in databases is sensitive, a lot of it is financial and some of it personal. The security of databases is paramount. Database Administrators are also responsible for troubleshooting, disaster prevention and disaster recovery. The job of a Database Administrator really boils down to providing easy, reliable access to databases and ensuring that databases are up and running all the time and that they are secure and protected.

What can a Database Administrator do for a Business?

What a Database Administrator can do a business is part and parcel of the job description. With a DBA on staff a business will have qualified personnel to maintain databases, enable the use of databases across a business, and someone who can keep databases secure. A Database Administrator will be involved in the installation, configuration, and design of database tools for a business. They will also be involved in capacity planning, security, troubleshooting and any required backup and recovery requirements a business has. A Database Administrator will identify user needs and ensure that they are met. They can also provide a valuable service to company executives and be responsible for recommending and evaluating any new technology, vendors, or purchases in this area.

Glassdoor the popular website for company, job and salary information provides Database Administrator average salary data in cities all over the US and the world. Glassdoor states that the average salary for a DBA in Atlanta GA is 69K USD per year, that it is 71K USD in Richmond VA and 81K USD in Los Angeles CA. Outside of the US Glassdoor finds that the average salary in Calgary Canada is 65K CAD annually and that in Berlin Germany it is 46K Euro annually. These average salary amounts are all very interesting.

To get the total and full cost means adding government taxes, employee health benefits, employee retirement benefits, office costs, infrastructure costs and other overhead into the mix. Once this total cost is established a business can do analysis regarding outsourced database administrator services. Typically, an outsourced database administrator can be obtained for 30% to 50% of the cost of someone locally.

Why Does Outsourcing a Database Administrator Make Sense

There are many reasons why Database Administrator staff augmentation can make sense for a business and particularly for an SMB. Besides getting needed skills in the door, or filling a challenging role, staff augmentation can also help a business expand a department. Department expansion might be needed due to the volume of work, and also to ensure follow the sun service continuity.

Outsourced database administrator services can easily supply a role 24/7 or 24/5. An outsourced database administrator can help a company focus on the core business and not divert workers who are essential to the core mission to jobs they are not a perfect fit for. Outsourced staff can complement existing staff and work along side them in a virtual manner no different than WFH (work from home) employees. Flexibility is one last reason why outsourcing a Database Administrator can make sense. Leveraging staff augmentation businesses can ramp these services up and down quickly.

How to Outsource Database Administrators

Contacting services providers of outsourced database administrator services is the first step to obtaining staff augmentation in this area. At Valenta we offer these services and are happy to assist. Whether your business contacts us, or not, there are a few items a business should look for. One important item is ensuring there is a management layer for staff at the service center workers will operate out of. This will ensure smooth operations and continuity in the event of staff change.

Having local contacts and account management from a service provider company is also a big plus. Someone in your home market will be able to fine tune a service to the specific needs of a business. Well-equipped service centers are also important as is locating them in countries with good infrastructure and broadband. Contracting companies should also ensure they are securing well educated workers with the skills, knowledge, degrees, and certifications required for the roles that will be fulfilled. Good language and communications skills is also essential and a prerequisite. Finally, it goes without saying that price and flexibility are two boxes that also must be ticked.

Want to Learn More?

We hope we have highlighted some of the main reasons why a business might want an outsourced database administrator. We believe that every business, and especially SMBs, should have access to this skill set. Valenta is focused on serving SMB clients exclusively. In addition to providing staff augmentation and outsourcing we also provide business process consulting plus digital transformation services that include automation, RPA, and conversational AI.

We have Managing Partners located in cities across the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, and Australia. Our Managing Partners work with other onshore consultants, plus offshore consultants, developers, and managers of outsourced staff to deliver the best services to our clients. We provide new economy and information economy roles in addition to Database Administrators such as Python Developers, Cyber Security Engineers, Cloud Engineers, Big Data Specialists, DevOps Engineers, and more. Valenta also provides traditional BPO services like accounting, bookkeeping, administration, billing staff, paralegals, paraplanners, medical scribes and assistants, digital marketers, IT staff, and software administrators. To contact us on this topic or any other, please reach out to us.

Leave a Reply