Executive Summary In its most basic form, a database is a computer software program used to organize and store data. This data can be anything from customer information through the transactions that comprise their activities. Providing a database product that stores the data, and supports the applications through which that data is gathered and reported upon, is critical to any business that uses it, but the product does not have much value if it does not offer administrative, maintenance, and management capabilities. In order to effectively utilize any of these products, businesses rely on efforts of the Database Administrator (DBA) for everything from installation through advanced environmental analysis.

As the sophistication of hardware platforms used in businesses and the volume of data being processed have both increased, so have the DBA’s responsibilities. The job of the DBA becomes more involved as an organization grows; yet, the timeframe to complete required tasks typically remains unchanged. Recognizing the importance of the DBA in business today, software vendors have sought to provide simplified management by offering tools and features that can help ease the burden yet provide enough sophistication and stability to accommodate the demanding rigors of day-to-day business processes. The ideal is a database product capable of adapting to any size organization, without adding administrative complexity, as the demands of the business increase with organizational growth.