Data fabric decoded

Data fabrics are hot right now, and some big names in the tech world like IBM, AWS, and SAP have gone all-in. The most recent is Microsoft. At the Ignite conference in mid-November 2023, it unveiled Microsoft Fabric. So, what exactly is this data fabric and why should you care? In this blog, I break down what the term means and unravel some of the mystery that surrounds it.

So, what’s the buzz about data fabric?

Imagine that your data is a traveler who has to cross various terrains with no clear path. There are mountains of servers, cross rivers of cloud platforms, and canyons of databases. Any one of these has the potential to stop your intrepid data traveler from going further if a path can’t be found.

Enter the data fabric, the provider of unified data integration. It’s a superhighway that connects all data sources and destinations. It weaves through entire digital landscapes, making sure data can travel effortlessly from one point to another, regardless of where it's stored or how it's formatted. As a result, it ensures that data is always where it needs to be, when it needs to be there for effective data management.

A data fabric is the ultimate translator, understanding the language spoken by each of your data sources and ensuring they communicate harmoniously. Whether your data is in the cloud, on-premises, or somewhere in between, the data fabric integrates and unifies it all. It also enables different systems and applications to work together, even if they weren't initially designed to do so. No more siloed data – it's all part of the same conversation. And because a data fabric doesn’t believe in manual labor, it automates processes, making data movement and management a breeze.

So, the next time someone tosses out the term "data fabric," you can confidently nod your head and say, "Ah, I know what that is – it's the maestro of data harmony!"

And now it’s time for a closer look at the benefits of a data fabric, what’s in it, what it can do, and how it is used.

Data fabric: Why should you care?

You might be thinking that this data fabric thing sounds cool and all, but you’re not sure of its value to you. So, it’s time to share just a few of its advantages.

Efficiency boost

How can you make data-driven decisions if you keep encountering bottlenecks that slow or prevent access, blocking you from seeing a complete picture? A data fabric streamlines your data operations, saving time and resources, so you can say goodbye to those bottlenecks and hello to efficient master data management.

Future-proofing

As your business evolves, so does your data. A data fabric is designed to grow with your business, accommodating new data sources, technologies, and business models. As a result, you're ready for whatever technological changes come your way.

Better decision-making

When data and analytics services are interoperable and data duplication is removed, the fabric becomes tighter, offering access to clean, integrated data. The better data quality management it provides results in better insights, so you can make informed decisions without worrying about getting lost in the data wilderness.

Easier and faster app development

When you team a data fabric with application development, it eases and accelerates the process of building apps. Why? Because it addresses integration challenges with data fabric APIs and ensures real-time data syncing for enhanced governance and speed. It supports data governance frameworks and reduces reliance on experts, minimizing delays, optimizing queries, and freeing up resources for innovative development. In addition, data modeling is codeless, so you can easily interact with data that lives in applications from Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft, and more.

A data fabric is your backstage pass to a well-orchestrated data symphony that enables you to make the right decisions and build the right applications. It's the unsung, many-layered, totally composed hero that ensures your data's journey is smooth, effortless, and always on the right track.

The common layers of a data fabric

The composition of a data fabric ultimately depends on the specific data needs and situations of the company that implements it. However, most share these six layers:

• Data management: This layer focuses on ensuring security and governance.
• Ingestion: This layer pulls all the data together and surfaces the connections between structured and unstructured data.
• Data processing: This layer is about data refinement so that only relevant data is extracted.
• Data orchestration: This layer makes the data usable for everyone in the organization by cleaning, transforming, and integrating it.
• Data discovery: This layer uncovers new avenues for integrating disparate data sources.
• Data access: This layer is where the action happens. Users are granted permission to use the data, it enables data visualization (dashboards, graphs, and so on), and applications connect to it.

Overcoming data challenges with a data fabric

So, what are the real-world challenges that a data fabric helps you conquer?

Data silos: Breaking down the walls

Picture your data as if it’s a group of people, each in a separate soundproof booth so they are unable to communicate with one another. That's the reality of data silos. A data fabric restores sound by pulling down the booths, allowing information to flow freely. Whether your data is in the cloud, on-premises, or residing in a third-party application, a data fabric connects the dots, ensuring a unified view.

Scalability woes: Growing pains no more

As your business expands, so does your data. Without the right infrastructure, managing this growth can become a headache. Here's where a data fabric shines. It effortlessly scales with your business, adapting to increasing data volumes without breaking a sweat. Say goodbye to worrying about whether your systems can handle the load.

The heart of innovation: Data fabric in action

To put all this information about data fabrics in perspective, consider this common scenario. A company uses a mix of cloud platforms, on-premises servers, and maybe a couple of SaaS applications. Each of these environments has its own way of doing things, speaking its own language.

Without a data fabric, the company would be in a tangled mess of data translations, compatibility issues, and endless headaches. But with a data fabric in place, data flows smoothly from one system to another like a well-choreographed dance.

Now, here’s a practical example.

Imagine you're a retail giant gearing up for a massive online sale. Your inventory data resides in an on-premises server. Customer information is scattered across various cloud applications. Your sales analytics are stored in yet another system. Without a data fabric, coordinating these elements for a successful sale would require a lot of time and effort–and several logistics experts.

But with a data fabric seamlessly connecting all these data points into a unified view, it’s smooth sailing. Your inventory is accurate, promotions are targeted, and your website runs seamlessly during the peak sale hours. Plus, your developers can take advantage of this cohesive data to build a user-friendly mobile app for shoppers. It's these behind-the-scenes heroics that make innovation possible.

Choosing the right data fabric: A brief guide

Data fabrics are not one-size-fits-all, so how do you choose the right one for your business? Here are some things to look for.

Comprehensive data views

A standout data fabric solution goes beyond data integration, offering a unified view across the organization. Tailored views for distinct business needs are easily crafted, and the solution’s data visualization functionality enables professional and new data users to quickly understand what they see.

Real-time data availability

In the dynamic business landscape, rapid decision-making relies on real-time data access. A robust data fabric employs in-memory processing, streaming, and integrates seamlessly with change data capture systems, ensuring swift and accurate updates.

High-performance and scalability

The hallmark of a data fabric solution is how efficiently it handles large data volumes while maintaining real-time processing speed. Conducting benchmark tests with sample data illuminates its performance and scalability under varying workloads.

Robust data governance

Be sure the data fabric you are considering excels in governance, featuring data lineage for tracking movements and robust security protocols—authentication, authorization, and encryption. GDPR compliance ensures data adherence to regulatory standards.

Cloud native architecture

The optimal data fabric embraces a cloud-native architecture, smoothly operating in diverse cloud environments. Its adaptability, driven by containerized workloads and microservices, facilitates scalability and resource optimization, contributing to cost efficiency and sustainability.

A digital tapestry for the future

In summary, a data fabric is the cornerstone of modern data management. By overcoming challenges, driving innovation, and providing a guide for selection, the data fabric ensures your data journey is not just seamless but also future-proof. It also accelerates application development and improves decision-making. It's time to consider embracing the power of a well-woven digital tapestry that propels your business into the future.

What about right now?

Do you have a digital transformation initiative that can’t wait for data fabric adoption? OutSystems makes it easy to build applications that rely on critical data across your enterprise right now. It can incorporate data from external databases, legacy systems of record, and SaaS applications so that developers can build scalable backend services and deliver the low latency needed to support the most demanding consumer apps. Learn more in this data integration blog or schedule a demo.