Chiến lược marketing

Fundamentals of Data Virtualization

Fundamentals of Data Virtualization
23
Th9

An innovative data technology called “data virtualization” (DV) is employed to tackle high volumes data from varied sources. Data virtualization is widely used in enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and sales force automation (SFA) systems to collect and aggregate multi-source data.

From
multi-sourced data acquisition to advanced analytics, this technology seems to
offer a one-stop solution. The biggest benefit of DV, as perceived by
businesses today, is the presence of this additional layer on top of traditional
data warehouses for fast and reliable access to data.

The Brief Introduction to Data Virtualization

In What Is Data Virtualization, “data virtualization” is described as a TV guide, which includes the content of many different channels in one place.

In simple terms, DV enables the placement of an additional layer of data access between the source of data and the user for faster access. A couple of examples of DV are “virtual data warehouse” and the “virtual data lake.”

Initially viewed as a workaround for ETL, this technology now offers fast data access, data integration, data cleaning, and analytics tools for BI users. DV enables established technologies like cloud, big data, and advanced analytics platforms to work in tandem to produce superior Data Management solutions that traditional data warehouses failed to achieve.

Data Management in the Age of Data Virtualization

Through data virtualization platforms, vendors are offering a one-stop solution for data collection, management, and data services delivery. A significant strength of DV, as stated in a Wipro blog post, is the complete reliability and security of real-time data. This single benefit is helping to earn huge rewards in the form of a quickly expanding DV market.

While ETL still delivers high-volume data movements, DV promises superfast access to data. Currently, the usage trends show that businesses are using both DV and ETL concurrently.

So, what are the most visible benefits of managing enterprise data with DV?

Fast access to secure dataReduction of data replicationReusability of unified data service

Data Virtualization for Big Data

Gartner predicted that through 2020, 60 percent of all the big data projects would fail. Data virtualization, while not able to solve all big data related issues, can substantially simplify processes and make big data projects easier to handle. For starters, this technology can make big data available and ready for use on BI platforms.

One of the primary challenges of big data is the “volume, variety, and velocity” of data residing in traditional data warehouses. A logical data warehouse is a data acquisition and data organization solution across the enterprise, where data resides in structured, unstructured, batch, or real-time forms. Data virtualization can substantially reduce the data integration while preserving performance. 

The whole point behind using such a data virtualization architecture is enabling “live data” stores in the warehouse and dead data in Cloudera-type repositories, and then combining multi-source data through a logical data warehouse. Data Virtualization vs. Copy Data Virtualization explains that though users often confuse these two distinct concepts, there is marked difference between them.

Data needs to
be accessed much faster than is currently possible in advanced analytics or BI platforms.
Thus, it is hoped that DV will be increasingly used for multi-source data
integration across enterprises, and “unified data views” will enable users to
get the accurate information when necessary.

Data Virtualization is Reshaping Analytics discusses advantages that the technology offers to business analytics. This innovative technology can combat the usual limitations of data preparation and analytics to achieve the best outcomes

How Does DV Reshape the Traditional BI Landscape?

With a presentation layer and federated data, DV delivers both fast access to multi-source data and a unified view of data. The encapsulated view of data makes it easy for BI users to create instant dashboards with valuable insights. DV prevents data loss or inconsistencies, especially in cases where the data is derived from streaming sources.

Here are some benefits the typical BI user sees when moving away from the data warehouse to DV architecture:

Increased access speed for real-time dataReduced data storage requirementsReduced risk of data loss or inconsistenciesLower workload on the systemEnhanced data governance through DV policies

Some of the noted disadvantages include complexities in change management, the need for a superior Data Governance model, and risk of impacting system response time. Notwithstanding its limitations, DV is ideal for agile BI and big data BI.

Data
Virtualization Use Cases

Use Case 1: Today, a virtual data warehouse is the preferred technology because setting up a VDW is much quicker than setting up a traditional data warehouse. This solution is ideal for big data analytics or cloud-based BI platforms.

Use Case 2: In a virtual data lake, the instantaneous consolidation of data, regardless of source, is very useful. This type of data access is beneficial for a varied range of business users

Cisco experts believe that the real challenge in a networked data world is not lack of data but the storing of data across diverse types of repositories, and no amount of technology investment is worth anything unless the resulting information is value-added. They have offered a DV solution that the vendor claims can convert “data stores into valuable information.” They believe DV has a future in combating IoT-generated data silos across the enterprise.

An Introduction to Data Virtualization and Its Use Cases provides additional examples.

Further
Explorations in DV

An Introduction to Data Virtualization describes how enterprises can deal with challenges posed by increasing data silos, data growth, and the newer technology platforms.

Image used under license from
Shutterstock.com