Generally speaking, DBAs do not run companies and therefore some general code of ethics for DBAs does not seem to me to be any effective effort. In fact, it might have the opposite result from the intent. I mean, if we have a DBA code of ethics, do we need an Administrative Assistant code of ethics? How about a janitorial code of ethics? Any given position below the executive level should be governed by the executive level. Thus, I think it would be more fruitful to come up with agreements DBAs would sign at the time of employment, and then monitor and enforce those codes from the top-down. I don't think DBAs need to be singled out anymore than programmers, data entry clerks or information collectors - all of whom also work with sensitive data.

Over the years I find I am more concerned that the industry still has no real definition of what a DBA "is" - that is, I have interviewed many people applying for DBA positions who were not really DBAs. I don't consider someone who "did SQL backups" and yet cannot write a simple query, a DBA, although many who have applied over the years do.

As well, granting some DBA code of ethics seems to me to be clapping with one hand. Are people in general now so lax in their basic ethical behavior that we need to spell this out with some formal document? And what if we do? Does this mean that an unethical DBA is suddenly going to behave? I don't think so.

This sounds more like some narcissistic, self-important, "oh look at me, I'm ethical" monkey business - a complete waste of time serving no purpose and surely not being enforceable. What are we going to do? Send unethical DBAs to a prison on some island like say, Cuba?

I would rather put my efforts (and see other's efforts) go to just plain good old fashioned ethical behavior because that is the right thing to do. Lets face it, as we see today with all the Wall Street baloney, unethical behavior might make you rich for a while, but it hurts thousands and can screw up an entire country if not world. If thats not a big enough incentive for people to behave themselves, then no code of ethics is going to matter - we would be truly doomed.

It would be much better if people would just do the right thing because its the right thing to do.