Beginning, Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 Administration

Chapter 15. An Administrator's Guide to Business Intelligence

As I mentioned in Chapter 1, SQL Server 2008 is much more than a relational Database Engine. SQL Server 2008 is really a data platform that provides tools for collecting, manipulating, moving, analyzing, and presenting information. The next three chapters will introduce you to the specific services and technologies that compose SQL Server's Business Intelligence (BI) toolset.

If you're new to database administration or just new to SQL Server Administration, you might not have had much exposure to BI technologies and methods. Speaking from experience, my background has primarily been in Systems and Network Administration. Business Intelligence had never been part of my vocabulary until the last couple of years. I wanted to write this chapter for those of you who, like myself, had little exposure to BI, but are suddenly involved in a BI project or initiative.

This chapter will begin with an introduction to Business Intelligence, as well as define Performance Management. Then, you will learn how the different components in the Microsoft BI stack can be used to help business users get more from their data. In addition to talking about SQL Server, there are two other products that bear mentioning in this chapter, as well—Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 and Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server (PPS) 2007. Finally, this chapter will end with a summary of the database administrator's role in a BI initiative. ...