Data mining is a crucial process in database administration that involves extracting valuable information from large datasets to uncover patterns and links. Key components include a data mining engine, user interface, data warehouse server, knowledge base, and a pattern evaluation module, with techniques such as classification, clustering, and predictive analysis applied in various fields like marketing and fraud detection. While it offers benefits like informed decision-making and fraud identification, it also presents challenges such as complexity, accuracy issues, and the need for extensive training.