In the early 21st century, Databases play an important part in our lives. Many people don't really think about it, but the reality is a great deal of what we do is recorded & saved on different Databases. Databases hold & produce 'data' on our country's entire economy. Share values & property records are all massive Databases of records, & despite the fact that much of the important information is also stored in the form of physical documentation, it is also kept (or listed) digitally for ease of access. If you use a debit card or credit card to pay for something, that information is recorded on a database. Your buying patterns are recorded so that shops can give you customer loyalty promotions for products you are probably buying - for example, if you've been purchasing cat food, you may be given a reduced premium for family pet insurance. All garages (& the police force) use the 'DVLA's' motor vehicle registration number Database to show all of the details of any motor vehicle or truck etc. registered on the system. By co-operating with the country's roadside camera network, this information is made use of to identify non payment of road-tax, and for London's Congestion charge scheme.

Both 'DBAs' and DB developers are likely to be extremely thorough & ordered people, that have a good attention to fine detail, & appreciate doing work in small teams, or alone. They frequently assist senior or higher management, and consequently need to have professional communication skills. Security is becoming a growing concern as more and more highly sensitive data is captured and held - making database employment very responsible. A very high degree of personal ethics and professional dependability will be called for - and in some organisations you may be asked for some type of security-clearance. Accountant-types and business-process workers flourish in this arena, and a lot move onto more senior manager's assignments, for a healthy understanding of the data that propels an organisation can lead to enhanced chances of promotion.

Consequently, if 'databases' are everywhere & such an important part of contemporary life, what type of employment roles exist? If we consider the work of IT professionals, there are two fundamental Database areas - Designing & building the 'databases' - & the software that manages & accesses them; & administering them - together with producing reporting-systems that utilise the data. The expression 'DBA', or 'Database Administrator', is a common 'acronym' used through-out the IT sector. A 'DBA' will typically be employed by a medium sized or bigger company, and take care of the everyday operations of a particular Database. Functions like Security and the back up of the data need managing. DBA's also have to build reports for managers to permit them to make well informed commercial decisions. They will also know the database 'language' of 'SQL' ('Structured Query Language') - pronounced as 'see-quel' - which offers a 'standardised' way of interrogating a Database for the information needed.

'Oracle' & SQL Server from Microsoft are the chief database-systems in operation right now. A number of sizeable installations still use the more mature Oracle system, but 'SQL' Server has become the most popular System in the majority of business environments, & as far as web-based databases go it rules supreme. MS has incorporated 'SQL' Server technology in to all the MS programming languages & platforms - defining it as an obvious option over 'Oracle' as far as Database training goes. Certifications have now been brought up to date, and the 'MCDBA' (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) has been succeeded by the 'MCITP' (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) & the MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). Though SQL-Server 08 is starting to gain some foothold, the existing widespread commercial edition of Microsoft 'SQL' Server is 2005, and it is this version which features in the MCITP DBA qualification. In order to get the complete MCITP qualification, several 'MCTS' modules need to be done first.

If you are beginning in the business, it will be smart to preface your Database study with software-support instruction. Software support will equip you with some entry level accreditations, to assist you to get your first IT job, not to mention offer you an insight into a further invaluable facet of the industry. Look into the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician ('MCDST'). Your entire professional training path of 'MCDST', MCTS & 'MCITP' could possibly be finished in roughly around 12 months if you're studying part time around your job. Much like any kind of career-track though, we advise you to consider carefully ahead of deciding on your options. You should be certain that the training practices and the actual chosen career are going to be good for you, so talk about them with an experienced IT training consultant first. If you really don't concentrate totally on where you wish to finish up, you might find yourself miles off course and 1000s of pounds worse off!

If it's the developer area of databases which appeals to you, then the MCITP DB-Developer from Microsoft is for you. Whilst not fully stretching into Database programming, this handles more on the preliminary rationale and setup of databases. Make sure you look at the programming area of this site if you're interested in this particular aspect of Databases. All in all, there's a lot bigger focus with both employers and students on the Administration of Databases. However if you would like to become a Developer, then our recommendation would be to build the DB Developer qualification into a more complete set of programming training. In the next few years, you will also find supplemental 'MCTS' accreditation in 'SQL' Server '08 more and more appropriate.

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