What is a Data Fabric and Why do You Need It?

What is a Data Fabric, Anyway?

The data fabric has become a rising trend in technology over the last several years. Gartner defines a data fabric as:

“a design concept that serves as an integrated layer (fabric) of data and connecting processes. A data fabric utilizes continuous analytics over existing, discoverable, and inferenced metadata assets to support the design, deployment, and utilization of integrated and reusable data across all environments, including hybrid and multi-cloud platforms.”

A data fabric provides a consistent set of data services and capabilities across on-premises and cloud environments. It allows users to abstract data from logically and physically different systems into a common set of data objects, so you can treat them as a unified enterprise data set.

What is a Data Fabric Used For?

Data fabrics are not new; they originated in the mid-2000s when computing began expanding from data centers into the cloud. Over time, data fabrics increased in popularity as businesses embraced hybrid clouds. Lately, data fabrics have garnered significant attention as organizations move processing to multi-cloud environments and the edge. Companies are looking for a framework that can move and manage these new loads and securely integrate them into their systems.

Data Fabrics sind für die Unterstützung von Initiativen zur digitalen Transformation von entscheidender Bedeutung, da Unternehmen eine Vielzahl von Systemen nutzen müssen, die über mehrere Clouds, On-Premises oder dezentrale Bereitstellungen verteilt sein können. Durch die Verwendung einer Data Fabric können Unternehmen Daten effizienter über Systeme hinweg gemeinsam nutzen, was zu besseren Geschäftseinblicken und mehr Flexibilität führt.

The data fabric design concept helps solve an age-old data problem – making things that are fundamentally different look and act similar enough to treat them as though they are the same. More significant challenges arise as analytic environments grow and develop, creating more urgency for the best possible solution.

Data fabrics provide a framework for teams to better handle complexities such as:

• Diverse data sources and types.
• Demand for real-time data for fast-paced decision-making.
• Data siloes across business functions.
• IT systems spread across operating environments (on-premises, multi-cloud, mobile, etc.).
• Growth in operational analytics and business-led data modeling.

Discover More About Data Fabrics

If you’re working in a complex analytics environment and decision makers want real-time data, you should consider working with a data fabric. Actian Data Platform offers users capabilities to implement a modern data fabric and access the data in real-time for informed business decision-making. The platform’s built-in integration can also help you manage the flow of data across your organization. Learn more about how Actian can support your company’s data fabric journey by viewing the variety of data services we provide: https://www.actian.com/product-overview/.

About Teresa Wingfield

Teresa Wingfield is Director of Product Marketing at Actian, driving awareness of the Actian Data Platform's integration, management, and analytics capabilities. She brings 20+ years in analytics, security, and cloud solutions marketing at industry leaders such as Cisco, McAfee, and VMware. Teresa focuses on helping customers achieve new levels of innovation and revenue with data. On the Actian blog, Teresa highlights the value of analytics-driven solutions in multiple verticals. Check her posts for real-world transformation stories.