Oracle 18c - Automated Self Driven Database - Future of DBA Jobs ?

Larry Ellison gives sleepless nights not only to Amazon  but also for Oracle DBAs.  Yes, there is a reason.  He declared that the upcoming Oracle database 18c version as an "Autonomous Database".

Here in this blog, we will discuss about the future of Oracle DBAs. Lets see.. whether this announcement would be a TREAT? or THREAT?

Before this, please have a look at my previous blog about Oracle 18c - Announcements by Larry Ellison. Below is the link. 

Whooping Announcements by Larry Ellison - Oracle 18c

What it means - Autonomous Database ?  And What are the Key Highlights of Oracle 18c ?     

• Automated Cyber Security System
• Autonomous Database
• Self Driven - Eliminates Human labor and Human error
• Fully Automated  Performance tuning
• Automated Upgrade while running
• Automated Patch while running
• Zero Labor Cost for Database Maintenance and Management
• Consumes less time 
• Consumes less memory storage
• 99.995% availability - 30 min max down time per year covering planned and unplanned downtime.
• Guaranteed half the price of Amazon. Targets 80% cost cut. Much cheaper than Amazon.
• Activated Data guard for recovery
• 5x faster RAC
• Autonomous at all levels - DWH, OLTP DB, Express, Private Cloud, Public Cloud, On premise
• And more..

Oracle Vs Amazon :-

So, it is a big challenge for Amazon now to handle this big announcement from Oracle.  No doubt about it. 

Larry simply asked "When we have automated DB for half the price of Amazon which is not automated, what is your choice? to customers. Now Amazon customers will simply turn and ask the same question to Amazon Sales guys. 

Amazon already lashes out at Oracle Announcements commenting " No facts, wild claims, and lots of bluster ". Eagerly waiting for Amazon's next step. 

Okay, that is pretty business stuffs.  The next million dollar question is the below one. 

What is the future of Oracle DBAs ? Automated Oracle DB is a TREAT or THREAT? 

Who can answer better than all others. Yes, Larry Ellison talked about the future of Oracle DBAs skill sets in the same announcements.  

Below are his views. I captured the same slide what Larry had presented ( Pl refer the below image )

Now :-

Till 12c, Oracle DBAs do a lot of day-to-day database monitoring and administration tasks,  Routine Patch updates, Taking Backups, Scheduling and Monitoring Jobs,  Manual Performance tuning etc.,  These skill sets will not be much required in Oracle 18c as they are automated now.

In Future :-

Then, what will be the much required skill set to adopt for Oracle DBAs.  He answered for the same. 

From 18c onwards, DBAs will be required much for the below tasks.. 

•  Database Design
•  Schema Design
•  Data Migration
•  Data Policies -  Authorization of who can view data or not 
•  Data Analytics using Machine Learning
•  Understanding Data Patterns

In Summary.. 

As quick as DBAs adopt to Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Data statistics, Data Patterns skill setS,  the latest announcement would be a TREAT for DBAs, else it would be a THREAT. 

In our next blog, we will discuss about what about the existing projects which is in Oracle 11i and 12c and how DBA roles will be slightly changing for existing projects and the upcoming new projects.

Stay Connected !
Sathish Chandran