Essentials to Get Your Data Strategy Right

1. Essentials to Get Your Data Strategy Right Choosing the right modern data architecture model for your business is a crucial and difficult decision. Luckily, you do not have to pick just one architectural pattern and ignore the rest. There is wisdom in combining data lake, mesh, fabric, and other frameworks into a hybrid data architecture model that serves your business goals. This article briefly discusses the major modern data architecture patterns, their benefits, and their limitations. This is a summary; you can access the complete advisory note here. Understanding the foundations of each strategy can help you choose which ones are a good fit for your needs. Below are the three most talked about data architectures in the industry - Data Lake The data lake (sometimes called data hub) design is reasonably straightforward, well-known, and well- suited to the capabilities of the average data engineer. However, the entire model is based on storing and copying data in different formats numerous times. It is neither sustainable nor scalable and, therefore, unsuitable for an organization dealing with ever-increasing data volumes. Data Mesh This strategy eliminates integration issues. It is based on the concept of federated data governance, which enables the decentralization of data—that is, organizing data along domain-driven lines where each domain owns its data, treated as a product for consumption by the rest of the organization. However, federated data governance is very difficult and requires maturity to implement. Data mesh necessitates a huge investment not only in technical implementation but also in organizational change. Data Fabric The appeal of data fabric is its ability to simplify cross-platform data administration. It also employs AI/ML to automate a long list of data operations and data management activities. But this seemingly perfect solution is highly technology-dependent, posing potential vendor lock-in problems down the line. And although data fabric technologies are known for cross-platform interoperability, they do not always work flawlessly with other tools. The above-listed architectures all have unique benefits and drawbacks. Picking just one approach often results in uncoordinated investment decisions. Therefore, many experts recommend implementing a hybridapproach. In the near future, fresh ideas and components will continue to bring in newer architectural patterns. While it is impossible to redefine architecture frequently, it is not advisable to use an unsustainable quick- fix approach, either. The key is integrating new ideas and components seamlessly into existing structures which helps adapt to changes while minimizing disruptions.