Data and Database Management

Consulting, Research, and Strategy

The web site of Craig S. Mullins

About Craig

President & Principal Consultant

Craig is president & principal consultant of Mullins Consulting, Inc. and an in-demand analyst, author and speaker. He has over three decades of experience in all facets of database systems development including creating and teaching database classes, systems analysis and design, data analysis, database administration, performance management, and data modeling.

Db2 and Database Expertise

Craig has worked with Db2 on the mainframe since Version 1 and has experience working with other database technologies including Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, Oracle, and IMS. IBM has appointed Craig as a Gold Consultant for Db2 and as an IBM Champion for Data & AI.

Thought Leadership, Writing, and Analysis

Craig was named as one of the Top 200 Thought Leaders in Big Data & Analytics by AnalyticsWeek. Big Data Made Simple also named Craig one of their 200 Big Data thought leaders. Craig has also been named an expert in the “Who’s Who in Cybersecuirty” listing published by Onalytica. Red Gate appointed Craig as one of the 100 Most influential in the database community. And Planet Mainframe named Craig as one of the Most Influential Mainframers for 2024! Craig is a prolific writer, having authored articles for popular journals and web sites including Database Trends and Applications, TDAN, TechTarget, Big Data Quarterly, and more.

Db2 and DBA Books

Craig is the author of three best-selling books on Db2 and database administration.

• DB2 Developer's Guide, published by IBM Press, delivers over 1600 pages of in-depth technical information on Db2 for z/OS. The best selling Db2 book over 20 years and 6 editions. • Database Administration: The Complete Guide to DBA Practices and Procedures, published by Addison Wesley, offers the industry's only comprehensive guide to heterogeneous database administration. • Craig’s latest Db2 book, A Guide to Db2 Application Performance for Developers, provides guidance and direction to Db2 application developers and programmers on how to write efficient, well-performing programs. If you write code and access data in a Db2 database, then this book is for you. • And Craig’s most recent database book, Optimizing Database Performance, offers guidance on the techniques and issues involved in creating and maintaining optimal database systems and the applications that access them (regardless of the DBMS you use). New Low-Cost, Easy-to-Read Books and eBooks I have recently started writing and compiling a series of low-cost eBooks that can be ordered on amazon. The books are on databases and data-related topics, as well as mainframe issues. The first four eBooks are available to be ordered now! And you also have the option of ordering print editions (at a slightly higher but still low cost). The Tao of Db2: Achieve Balance and Understanding of Db2 Learn how to manage Db2 to achieve harmonious systems and applications that deliver quality and performance using the Tao of Db2. Follow the exploits of a seasoned DBA and his intern as they learn "the way" of Db2 database management. Great for new DBAs but also fun for experienced ones, too! Database Design Reviews: Techniques to Prepare Databases and Applications for Operational Implementation This book provides a framework for a series of design reviews that should be conducted in order to deliver quality database and application code. Use this book as a template for establishing a consistent approach to database design reviews in your organization. Regulatory Compliance for Data and Database Systems: Protect Your Sensitive Data This book delivers an introduction to the regulatory landscape and its impact on data and database systems and management. We will take a high-level look at some of the most impactful regulations that affect how we manage database systems. The primary focus of this book is to examine several techniques that can be used to ensure compliance: including database auditing, data masking, and data archiving for long-term data retention. Database Views: Rules and Considerations for View Usage Views are a fertile ground for disagreement among database systems professionals. Some analysts promote the liberal creation and usage of views, whereas others preach a more conservative approach. But views can be useful tools that ease data access and system development when used prudently. As you read this book you will come to understand the best apporach for deploying views. Along the way you will learn what views are, as well as how they compare with other, similar database structures. And a series of specific rules for view creation and usage will be presented to help guide your database and application development efforts.

Speaking and Events

Craig is a frequent speaker at industry events, having spoken about database issues to thousands at conferences such as IDUG Db2 Tech Conference, IBM Think, SHARE, SSWUG, Data Summit, DAMA Symposium, PASS Data Community Summit, and Oracle World, as well as at hundreds of regional user groups all over the world.

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mainframe, Db2, DBA

Items of Interest Mainframe Specialty Processors Craig’s new IBM mainframe bookfocuses on clarifying and guiding main- frame pros on how to use IBM Z specialty processors, like zIIPs. The book also offers an overview of mainframe internals, IBM Z licensing and pricing, and offers guidance on how to implement them effectively. DBA Corner column Craig writes this monthly column for Database Trends & Applications magazine. It focuses on issues of interest to data architects, database analysts and DBAs. Issues addressed include data modeling and database design, DBA practices and procedures, performance management and tuning, application development, optimization techniques, data governance, regulatory compliance and industry trends. Speaking Schedule Be sure to regularly check Craig’s upcoming event and webinar speaking schedule, which can always be found here Db2 Application Performance Craig’s latest Db2 book focuses on guiding application developers on coding efficient Db2 programs. Read this book to obtain a well-grounded education in designing and developing efficient Db2 applications that perform well. Optimizing Database Performance This new book, just published in August 2023,, guides the reader through the many techniques and issues involved in creating and maintaining optimal database systems and the applications that access them.

IBM Champion