---
esco_uri: http://data.europa.eu/esco/skill/c2296e2e-5fef-4f24-a24f-e5b3792268be
esco_label: "provide ICT support"
relation: optional
onet_soc: 15-1242.00
source: model-knowledge
confidence: high
qa_count: 0
generator: gemma3:27b (prompt-designed and spot-checked by Claude)
generated: 2026-07-10
---

# provide ICT support — Database Administrator

For a Database Administrator (DBA), 'providing ICT support' isn’t about general helpdesk tasks, but *specifically* supporting users interacting with the database systems themselves. This means resolving issues like user access problems (password resets are common, yes!), troubleshooting application connectivity to databases, and assisting developers with query performance questions that manifest as application slowness. It also extends to helping end-users understand basic data retrieval – 'how do I find X in the system?' – without *doing* their work for them. Think less ‘fixing printers’ and more ‘unblocking a user who can't run a critical report'.

Typical tools used aren't standard helpdesk software, but database management consoles (SQL Server Management Studio, Oracle SQL Developer, etc.), scripting languages (PowerShell, Python) to automate access grants/revocations, and monitoring tools to quickly identify if the issue is database-related or elsewhere. A common pitfall is getting drawn into application debugging – DBAs need to politely redirect those requests to the development team while offering data-focused insights ('the query taking a long time *is* hitting an unindexed table').

A good DBA providing this support doesn’t just fix the immediate problem; they look for patterns. Are multiple users requesting the same access? That suggests a role/permission issue needing a permanent solution. Is a specific report consistently slow? That points to query optimization or data volume concerns. Proactive documentation (FAQs, knowledge base articles) addressing common user issues is *key* – reducing repeat requests and empowering self-service.

Finally, remember the 'updating databases' part of the ESCO definition isn’t about schema changes (that’s a separate DBA task). It refers to applying patches/updates *to the database software itself*, which often requires coordinating downtime with users and verifying application compatibility post-update. This is where strong communication skills are vital – explaining impact, timelines, and providing status updates.

## Weitere Anreicherung

Stage-2 source for future practitioner grounding: arXiv cs.SE (software-engineering preprints).
