SQL DBA to BI Developer Role

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SQL DBA to BI Developer Role

deepthi818

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July 13, 2010 at 7:30 am

#224699

Hi all
I am an SQL Server DBA with 3 years of experience, I have some experience in SSIS. I am not an expert in SSIS, but am looking at moving into BI.
I am looking at becoming a BI Developer with specific specialisation in SSIS. How can I start planning for this career shift. What are the challenges i might face.
Does my SQL server DBA experience help in this career shift.
Please suggest me on this.
Regards
Deepthi

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steveb. SSC-Forever Points: 46733 More actions · Answer 1

SQL DBA experience will help to some extent,

If you are planning on working with datawarehouses then I would try and get an understanding of Dimensional modelling and Kimball Methodology.

You may find it hard to specialise in SSIS unless you join a large consulatancy, as your main tools will be the entire MS BI stack. Infact in my experience the SSIS work of a BI developer can often be less complex than that of a DBA.

Anyway good luck it is a great field to be in and you sound like you have the desire to learn new things so I am sure you will be fine,

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 2

deepthi818 (7/13/2010)
Hi all
I am an SQL Server DBA with 3 years of experience, I have some experience in SSIS. I am not an expert in SSIS, but am looking at moving into BI.
I am looking at becoming a BI Developer with specific specialisation in SSIS. How can I start planning for this career shift. What are the challenges i might face.
Does my SQL server DBA experience help in this career shift.
Please suggest me on this.
Regards
Deepthi

It depends... What KIND of SQL Server DBA? What did you do as a DBA?

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

deepthi818 SSC-Addicted Points: 437 More actions · Answer 3

My experience as DBA included the usual DB activities like Health checks , Backups, Installations, Migrating the server etc... I also developed some basic SSIS packages and had to do some little scripting.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 4

Generally speaking, SSIS is for ETL... SSAS is for BI. Are you sure it's SSIS you're looking for? Actually, if you really want to get into BI, you might consider learning both. Boning up on some of the "black arts" for T-SQL wouldn't hurt, either.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

steve block SSCertifiable Points: 7698 More actions · Answer 5

The Microsoft Certifications for Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance (MCTS Exam 70-448 and MCTIP Exam 70-452) include Integration Services, Reporting Services and Analysis Services so Integration Services (SSIS) is just one piece of the BI Developer Role.

Microsoft Press has a book called "MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-448): Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008—Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance" that could get you started.

Steve

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004363 More actions · Answer 6

Outstanding. Thanks for your time, Steve! It'll help everyone that happens to read this thread.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)