A system and method for managing a database is provided. The system and method includes logic that supports an atomic synchronization operation initiated by execution of a single synchronization statement. This operation utilizes a single call to a database management system to transform a database table from a first unknown state to a known state that contains a specified target record containing one or more specified data values. The first unknown state may be a state that already contains the target record, or may instead be a state that does not contain the record. In the former instance, a record containing one or more of the data values is created, and in the latter instance, the existing record is updated. A one-step locking mechanism is performed in conjunction with the operation to prevent the occurrence of deadlock and to minimize the number of required lock requests.