What technique should a database administrator use to observe and analyze the initial performance of a database system over time?

• A. Baseline configuration/trending
• B. Data encryption
• C. Load balancing
• D. Data normalization

Answer: (A)

The technique of baseline configuration/trending is essential for a database administrator to effectively observe and analyze the initial performance of a database system over time. This process involves establishing a baseline, which serves as a reference point for measuring the database's performance metrics under normal operating conditions. By documenting the performance during this baseline period, administrators can identify deviations and trends that occur as changes are made to the database system — whether through hardware upgrades, software updates, or optimizations.

This practice is invaluable for performance tuning, capacity planning, and troubleshooting. By comparing current performance metrics against the established baseline, administrators can detect anomalies, assess the impact of upstream or downstream changes, and make informed decisions to enhance system efficiency.

In contrast, data encryption primarily focuses on securing data and is not directly related to performance monitoring. Load balancing pertains to distributing workloads across multiple resources to optimize resource use and increase availability, which is a broader infrastructure consideration rather than specific database performance analysis. Data normalization involves organizing database schemas to minimize redundancy and dependency but does not inherently provide insights into performance measurements over time.