Scenario: A DBA notices a sudden increase in database response time. What steps should they take to troubleshoot this issue effectively?

When troubleshooting a sudden increase in database response time, reviewing database configuration parameters is essential. These parameters can affect various aspects of database performance, such as buffer pool sizes, sorting memory, and lock thresholds. By reviewing these settings, a DBA can identify any misconfigurations that might be contributing to the performance issue. Additionally, monitoring system resource utilization helps identify potential bottlenecks such as CPU, memory, or disk I/O saturation, which could impact overall database performance.