Meet the DataStrike DBAs: Learn from a Seasoned SQL Expert, Jeremy Christy

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We sat down with our very own Jeremy Christy, seasoned SQL Server DBA (Database Administrator). Jeremy was recently hired after a long stint with us back in our RDX days and we’re thrilled to have him on board again. As a veteran and consummate data professional, Jeremy has worked with various environments and platforms, and we saw it fit to pick his brain again. Check out our conversation below.

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Can you describe your role and responsibilities as a SQL DBA at DataStrike?

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Christy: Here at DataStrike, I have the day-to-day responsibilities of ensuring that a client's data is secure and readily available - as do all of the talented DBAs I have the privilege of working with. I look forward to being both a mentor to our more junior staff as well as being able to assist in the growth of the company in any way that I possibly can. There's always been something exciting to me about seeing the next generation of administrators come in and grow into exceptional resources for our customers. That's one of the primary reasons I wanted to work with DataStrike - to take on challenges that fall outside the realm of support that some of our competitors refuse to address and to help the next generation of data professionals succeed.

What types of clients have you typically worked with in the past?

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Christy: Oh wow, that’s a list that’s going to be rather long, as I’ve worked with a bevy of customers over the past thirteen years or so. However, I’ll say that I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse environments mainly consisting of healthcare systems, manufacturing, and transportation clients.  The industry may differ between the clients, but the goal remains the same for all of them at the end of the day. They all have similar needs pertaining to monitoring, maintenance, and management of sensitive environments. Many needs modernization, while some need migration from their legacy system. Sometimes, they require solutions for backup and restore, while other times performance tuning is all they need. Really, it just depends on their challenges. I’ve seen it all in the decade plus I’ve been working in SQL.  

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Can you share some of the most common SQL-related challenges you encounter with clients? What challenges did you see occurring a decade ago compared to today?

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Christy: The challenges that we face now seem to revolve around data security and transport, along with an increased focus on data analytics. I’ve begun to see noticeable changes to organizational structure as they want to migrate their data into centralized repositories. Data is an incredibly potent tool in business, and everyone has started realizing how important it is to understand where your employees, your business unit, and your company stand in an analytical sense. Now, when I look back to ten years ago, challenges fell along the lines of openly embracing emerging technology and getting organizations to the stage of having a reliable data environment, while leveraging high availability options and shoring up these sensitive environments.

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What are the most frequent database performance issues clients face, and how do you address them?

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Christy: The most common performance issue that I hear whenever I work with a new client is inevitably the time-tested problem of users complaining about slowness in the system. That’s an all-encompassing symptom that is anything from a lack of maintenance to poorly written code, to architectural deficiencies. It’s a fun problem to tackle just because of how many possibilities the true problem could actually be.  

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How do you handle clients with scalability challenges or rapid data growth?

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Christy: I think the most important part of handling rapid growth in any environment is understanding where you want to be for the foreseeable future. You have to picture what that will look like in a 1-3 year timeframe. If there’s not a plan for the future long-term, then any short-term solution you implement may end up being inadequate very quickly. At DataStrike, we ensure future-proof solutions to prevent any inadequacies from occurring, so you feel secure in the decisions you’ve made.  

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About DataStrike  

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DataStrike is the industry leader in 100% onshore data infrastructure services and enables companies to harness IT changes as a catalyst for growth. With a network of highly specialized experts, strategic partnerships with the world's biggest technology providers, and a platform agnostic approach, DataStrike provides innovative solutions and practical guidance to accelerate digital transformation initiatives and drive better business outcomes for small-to mid-sized businesses. Click here to learn more about our service offerings.  

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