MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) is Only Paper Certified?
MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) is Only Paper Certified?
By : Kasim Wirama, MCDBA
In offline discussion, some mailing list user asks what the proper salary is appropriate for a MCDBA. I think it depends on level that the use expects from a MCDBA, entry level, middle level or advanced level.
Anyway, a MCDBA should know all features of SQL Server, including how to design database with flexibility and extensibility while maintaining performance within baseline in future time. But other thinks that MCDBA is worthless, it should be same level as software developer. I am not sure whether I disagree or agree with it because at some points they are right but not absolutely right. But a clear distinction comes to my insight in what extent a MCDBA could give value to software engineering in database development and administration.
A MCDBA should have proven experience in database area, how he could maintain data integrity and data quality, transform data into information to end user, provide high availability solution against potential data loss because of disaster.
What is the crucial asset in a company that relies on database? The answer is DATA. How a MCDBA secures and maintain the data is key role to ensure success of business continuity of a company. Data loss is a big disaster for a company, the impact is that customer trust will be breached and company will loss most of the potential benefit from it.
That is critical mission that a MCDBA should have such a responsibility. If a holder of MCDBA is a professional that doesn’t have strong database background experiences, I can say that the individual’s certification doesn’t emphasize value and potential on him. Vice versa, a MCDBA certification is a form of Microsoft recognition that the holder has mastered the SQL Server product and he is considered to be ready to dealing with database stuff.
Considering the responsibility of MCDBA is more critical rather than developer, it could have more important position among any roles in software development. So, it is questionable that salary for MCDBA is equal to developer’s. Some people think that appreciation is too high for MCDBA, but I think that’s the international standard that a MCDBA should get this reward because of heavy responsibility to keep data integrity and availability all the time. Does it make sense? Agree and disagree is both side of a coin.