As the need for data management becomes a broader business imperative, database administrators are becoming commonplace in organizations of all sizes and all industries.

Let’s take a look at some key statistics that prove the increasing demand for database administrators:

• Database administration is a substantial tech occupation category with an estimated base of 144,887 employed U.S. workers in 2023.
• In the last 12 months there were more than 23,400 job postings by U.S. employers for database administrators.
• Employers listed more than 2.1 million job postings in the United States seeking candidates with database-related skills over the past 12 months.
• The need for database administrators will continue to grow, reaching about 163,000 by 2033.
• The 10-year projected growth rate for database administrators is 35% above the national rate

CompTIA DataSys+

• A foundational certification intended for beginner to intermediate data professionals pursuing a job in data management as a database administrator (DBA) or related role.
• For professionals on the data management career pathway.
• Certified CompTIA DataSys+ professionals are qualified for database administrator (DBA) roles. Once in a DBA role, candidates could pursue the role of data engineer as a next step.

CompTIA Data+

• Intended for early-career data analytics professionals tasked with developing and promoting data-driven business decision-making.
• For professionals on the data interpretation career pathway.
• Certified CompTIA Data+ professionals are qualified for data analyst roles. Once in a data analyst role, candidates could pursue the role of data scientist as a next step.

CompTIA DataSys+ is the only option for developing and validating data systems skills.

And CompTIA exams are developed through an intensive process that includes workshops where IT pros come together and discuss what current knowledge, skills and abilities are required to perform certain job roles. So, the topics covered by CompTIA DataSys+ match the knowledge, skills and abilities database administrators need today.

Additionally, CompTIA DataSys+ is a vendor-neutral certification, which means that the knowledge and skills you learn can be used to perform various job roles regardless of the specific programs and tools being used. Vendor-specific certifications, on the other hand, only prepare you to work with just one platform.

For individuals:

CompTIA DataSys+ certification shows employers you have a standardized skill set to transition to a data management role. It also shows hiring managers your commitment to staying current with industry trends and addressing organizational needs.

For employers:

As needs evolve and grow, CompTIA DataSys+ learning provides a consistent solution to develop talent from within. Because of inconsistency in education programs, organizations seeking to hire database administrators can rely on CompTIA DataSys+ certification to validate the skills of candidates.

The amount of time you’ll need to prepare for CompTIA DataSys+ depends on your existing knowledge of the topics and your hands-on data management experience. We recommend that you have 2-3 years of hands-on experience working as a database administrator or equivalent experience. We also suggest that you dedicate between 30 and 40 hours of studying before taking the exam.

The CompTIA DataSys+ exam will include topics on:

• Database structure types
• How to develop, modify and run code
• How to gather, store and drive data assets
• The different aspects of database planning and design
• The various phases of the implementation, testing and deployment of data
• The purpose of monitoring and reporting database performance
• Common database maintenance processes
• How to produce critical documentation
• How to secure databases, protect against attacks and control authorization while ensuring governance and regulatory compliance
• How to prepare and recover from incidents by implementing best practices for backup and restoration of data

But you won’t just learn in theory. Because you learn and test with performance-based questions, you will be able to prove your skills in real-world scenarios, meaning you can jump right in and add value to any organization.

The primary job role for CompTIA DataSys+ is database administrator, but that job role has many different titles. Some of the most common include:

• Senior database administrator
• System database administrator
• Task-oriented database administrator
• Application database administrator
• Cloud database administrator
• Specialist database administrator
• Database manager
• Database designer
• Performance database administrator

Becoming certified in CompTIA DataSys+ opens doors to a variety of data management jobs such as but not limited to:

Database Administrator

Skilled database administrators are needed to oversee, maintain and protect the increasing quantity of data that organizations are collecting.

A database administrator’s responsibilities include:

• Configuring and maintaining the database management system
• Creating policies for the maintenance, security and use of the database management system
• Training employees in how to use the database management system
• Updating the database code as new technologies emerge
• Recovering and backing up data as needed

Different types of database administrators include:

• System database administrator
• Application database administrator
• Cloud database administrator
• Performance database administrator

Database Designer

A database designer is responsible for creating and maintaining the structure of a database system, ensuring that it meets the needs of the organization and provides efficient data storage and retrieval.

Database designers support their organization in the following ways:

• Analyzing and understanding business requirements to design an appropriate database structure
• Creating and maintaining Entity-Relationship (ER) diagrams and data dictionaries to document database design
• Optimizing database performance by designing efficient table structures, indexes and relationships
• Collaborating with database developers and administrators to implement and maintain the database design
• Continuously reviewing and updating the database design to accommodate changes in business requirements or technology

Database Manager

A database manager is responsible for overseeing the administration, maintenance and security of an organization’s database systems, ensuring optimal performance and data integrity.

A database manager’s responsibilities include:

• Managing and monitoring database systems to ensure optimal performance, availability and security
• Developing and implementing database backup and recovery strategies to protect data from loss or corruption
• Collaborating with IT teams to plan and execute database upgrades, migrations and integrations
• Establishing and enforcing database policies, procedures and standards to maintain data integrity and security
• Training and mentoring database administrators and other team members on best practices for database management

A database manager is essential for maintaining the health and security of an organization’s database systems, ensuring that data is readily available and protected from potential threats.

Database Developer

A database developer is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining database solutions that meet an organization’s data storage and retrieval needs.

Database developers support their organization in the following ways:

• Developing and maintaining database objects such as tables, views, stored procedures and triggers
• Writing and optimizing SQL queries to ensure efficient data retrieval and manipulation
• Collaborating with database designers to implement and maintain database structures
• Troubleshooting and resolving database-related issues, including performance bottlenecks and data inconsistencies
• Assisting in the development and implementation of database security measures to protect sensitive data

A database developer plays a vital role in creating and maintaining the database systems that power an organization’s data-driven processes and applications.

Database Specialist

A database specialist focuses on the design, development and optimization of databases to ensure efficient data storage, retrieval and management.

A database specialist’s responsibilities include:

• Creating and implementing database structures, schemas and data models to ensure efficient data storage and organization
• Developing and maintaining processes for data extraction, transformation and loading (ETL) to ensure seamless integration of data from various sources into the database
• Monitoring and analyzing database performance, identifying bottlenecks and implementing necessary optimizations to improve query response times and overall database efficiency
• Implementing and maintaining security measures to protect sensitive data, ensuring data integrity and complying with regulations and industry best practices
• Working closely with database administrators, developers and other stakeholders to provide technical expertise, troubleshoot issues and ensure the database meets the evolving needs of the organization

Database specialists play a crucial role in the effective management of organizations’ data assets. By designing and optimizing databases, they ensure that data is stored and accessed efficiently, securely, and in compliance with relevant regulations, ultimately contributing to the success of the organization.

If you want to land one of these jobs, the new CompTIA DataSys+ certification can validate your data skills and advance your career.