Morning, all.

I was intrigued by the thought of a code of ethics for DBAs. But having read through the latest one from OracleGiants.com (2007) I have changed my mind and no longer think we need one.

Most ‘ethical’ decisions made by a DBA are nothing to do purely with being a DBA, just with being a person with inside knowledge/access. I think I read it on this website that a DBA owns the database but NEVER the data.

A DBA has a position of trust, given that they have unfettered access to data which is very likely to be privileged, confidential and security related. But so do the finance department, the HR department and anyone else who has access to anything that isn’t theirs. You don’t need to be a skilled senior employee to do that. There are people much lower down the tree who have access to just as much personal data.

Consider the clerk who enters your company’s payroll data. A junior role entrusted with the utmost private information.

My point is this: A DBA making unethical use of their power is no different to anyone else doing the same. I don’t want my bin man going through my rubbish but I don’t expect there to be an industry approved code of conduct for him. He just needs to use some common sense.

I wouldn't want someone looking through my data out of their own curiosity, so I don't do it. I don't steal things, and that includes data. Two ethical decisions but the DBA aspect is irrelevant.

Tom

Before I get back to prying through the home directories of our company’s directors I thought I would post a list of job roles which could do with codes of conduct, some of them maybe have? 🙂

Personal trainer

Teacher

Journalist

Carer

Laundrette worker

‘Santa clause’ at the shopping centre

Ice cream man

Guys who invented facebook