Word of the Day: data virtualization

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | May 8, 2019 data virtualization Data virtualization is an umbrella term used to describe an approach to data management that allows an application to retrieve and manipulate data without requiring technical details about the data, such as how the data is formatted or where it is physically located. The goal of data virtualization is to create a single representation of data from multiple, disparate sources without having to copy or move the data. Data virtualization software aggregates structured and unstructured data sources for virtual viewing through a dashboard or visualization tool. The software allows metadata about the data to be discoverable, but hides the complexities associated with accessing disparate data from different sources. It is important to note that data virtualization does not replicate data from source systems; it simply stores metadata and integration logic for virtual viewing. Vendors who specialize in this type of software include IBM, SAP, Denodo Technologies, Oracle, TIBCO Software, Microsoft and Red Hat.   Essentially, data virtualization software is middleware that allows data stored in different types of data models to be integrated virtually. This type of platform allows authorized consumers to access an organization's entire range of data from a single point of access without knowing (or caring) whether the data resides in a glass house mainframe, on premises in a data warehouse or in a data lake in the cloud. Because data virtualization software platforms view data sources in such an agnostic manner, they have a wide range of use cases. For example, the centralized management aspect can be used to support data governance initiatives or make it easier to test and deploy data-driven business analytics apps.   Data virtualization software can also play a role in managing who is able to access certain data sources and who is not. Perhaps one of the most important reasons for deploying data virtualization software, however, is to support business objectives that require stakeholders to view a single source of truth (SSOT) in the most cost-efficient manner possible. Quote of the Day "Data virtualization's value lies in its ability to access, combine and transform information into a usable format without the time and expense associated with physically moving that information." - Mark Brunelli Trending Terms metadata middleware data federation technology single source of truth (SSOT) integration unstructured data Learning Center Evaluate the features of data integration tools and software Data integration tools and software offer various features, so the first step should be learning the difference between your company's must-have, should-have and nice-to-have features. This article walks through all the options so you can create a thorough and comprehensive request for proposal. Big data processing could be the way all data is processed Despite enterprise hesitation and misfires with data lakes, big data processing technology is steadily taking over. So dive in, or get left high and dry. Data.gov shutdown shows limits of open data The Data.gov shutdown is a small part of the larger partial U.S. government shutdown. But the closure of this Obama-era open data effort shows the risks organizations face as they become dependent on any one source for data feeds. Adding a data virtualization layer to IT systems: Three questions to ask Read up on the three most common objections to adding a data virtualization layer to your IT systems, around implementation, data access and performance. How data virtualization tools work Find out how data virtualization tools enable IT shops to gain access to disparate sources of data and how the presentation layer and federation processes work. Quiz Yourself Application streaming and virtualization can help you _______ greater network efficiency. a. attain b. obtain Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.