A Beginner’s Guide to Data Fabric

Data fabric is a new enterprise data technology that is the first real evolution of data since the 1970s when the relational database emerged. Data fabric utilizes network-based architecture to managed information through connections instead of making copies. This technology is similar to the way the human brain operates. The name “data fabric” derives from the idea that the network structure is interwoven like a piece of fabric.

Keep reading to learn more about what is a data fabric.

What is Data Fabric?

By utilizing a network-based, interconnected design that functions similarly to the human brain, data fabric eliminates foundational integration thus reducing build times. Since data fabric is reliant on universal access to information instead of simply making copies, the result is meaningful data ownership.

What is the Purpose of Data Fabric?

At the most basic level, the goal of data fabric is to deliver a better method of managing enterprise data by replacing copies with precise access while offering a method of separating data from the applications that develop it. The result is more control over data owners while making it easier to share data with others.

Data fabric is a revolutionary accomplishment because historically, the easier it was to share data, the more difficult it was to maintain ownership. This has become critical in recent years because of the emergence of cloud technology that made it possible to spread unlimited copies of data instantly. While this improved sharing opportunities, it eliminated ownership.

Key Components of Data Fabric

While the idea of data fabric is new, there are various solutions under its name. When looking for a solution, consider the following components:

Active Metadata

Metadata is data about the data and is one of the key components of the data fabric. Traditional metadata has limited usefulness but data fabric makes it active because it can be updated in real-time while being analyzed, queried, and interacted with like traditional data. By activating metadata, universal data operations can be streamlined from an end-to-end process.

Autonomous Data

Until data fabric, data has been tied to the program or application that created it results in tens of thousands of copies across the Internet. Data fabric separates data from the application resulting in autonomous data, which exists independently and can be accessed by many applications without direct integration efforts.

Meaningful Ownership

Meaningful data ownership is critical to protecting enterprise security and personal privacy and is considered the foundational step for the data future of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and other emerging technologies. Since data fabric allows creators to own their data instead of spreading copies, it takes society one step closer to the future.

Plasticity

Plasticity can reorganize and reshape existing information more efficiently. It allows your brain to manage more data than any existing company and regularly self-optimizes it to allow for more efficient connections with new learnings. Data fabric helps make similar networking connections that are streamlined to develop actual data intelligence for a corporation.

Universal Control

To be considered a data fabric, it must be designed as a network to offer universal access. Since there are controls integrated at all data levels, permissions will exist wherever data appears. This access eliminates the need to copy data between apps and perform costly and time-consuming integration projects while setting the stage for proper ownership and privacy.

Data fabric is a revolutionary technology that is compared to data virtualization technology because they both present innovative methods of managing enterprise data. The primary difference is data fabric delivers real change within the physical structure of the data. If you are in the market for data fabric, consider the above components to help ensure you find the best option to meet your needs.