There are very few technologies that a business can function without, but databases remain an essential component of enterprise IT and will rightly have a place in data centers for as far as one can predict. However, that doesn’t mean that databases aren’t going through an evolutionary phase. In fact, thanks to the cloud, open-source technologies and big data, database appliances and management systems are introducing new capabilities, performing better than ever and delivering solutions for emergent technologies and applications.
However, all of these new database systems also bring a set of associated challenges with them. ComputerWeekly contributor and former database administrator Andy Hayler explained that companies must adapt to the changing database market with employees who have required skill sets and managers who plan cutting-edge strategies. Hayler noted that it all starts by understanding current limitations and identifying future challenges.
With Hayler’s recommendation in mind and an eye on the ever-changing database market, here are three ways to hire your way into the future of enterprise IT and database management.
1. Find someone with open-source RDBMS skills
While most hiring managers are familiar with technologies such as SQL Server and MySQL, there is a new type of relational database management system that is sweeping enterprise IT by storm: Open-source solutions.
“25% of all RDBMSs currently in use are built on open-source technology.”
According to Gartner, 25 percent of all RDBMSs currently in use are built on open-source technology, as organizations use them for both transaction systems and data warehousing and analytics. The source also highlighted that the OSRDBMS market grew 31 percent over 2013, while the standard RDBMS segment experienced a growth of around 5.4 percent in 2014.
The bottom line is simple: Sooner or later you’ll be using one of these systems, and if you’re hiring an SQL or database administrator, it can’t hurt to request skills in this regard.
2. Stay on the up to date on emerging tech
One of the toughest challenges of enterprise IT is having cutting-edge technology. After all, that trait, when present at a business, is commonly associated with success. So, with that in mind, always keep an eye out for resumes containing these database technologies, as that perspective hire could prove to be very valuable:
- NoSQL: Hayler explained that right now, there is a whole generation of programmers and products that rely on SQL. Unfortunately, those employees might be lost using NoSQL databases. If someone has experience using NoSQL, don’t count them out.
- MPP: Massively parallel processing capabilities mean that a database can split loads across many processors, effectively making big data easier to analyze. This approach is unlike any database schema, so keep an eye peeled for someone familiar with MPP.
- Cloudera Impala: This one technology requires a combination of all these new database skills. Cloud Impala is an open-source MPP SQL query engine built for mining data from Apache Hadoop clusters. Dice placed Cloudera Impala at the top of its fastest growing tech skills list, so don’t think twice about that hire!
Hire someone who understands the fundamental high-level concepts of database management.3. Pay attention to other talents
Perhaps most importantly, hiring managers need database administrators and other IT personnel with skills in management. InfoWorld reported that employees need to grasp high-level concepts behind new database technologies and effectively manage the deployment of these platforms in order to drive organizational change, while the Small Business Chronicle highlighted the importance of communication skills and talents in reading and writing for DBAs.
As a hiring manager, you know how difficult it is to find the perfect person for a job. With an eye open for those skill groups, you might find that the best employees weren’t who you were originally looking for.