What is data virtualization? Data virtualization is the creation of a virtual copy of data from one or more physical data sources. It is used to abstract data away from its physical location and make it more accessible to users and applications. Data virtualization can be used to create a single view of data from multiple disparate data sources. Keep reading to learn more about data virtualization and how it can benefit your organization.
How does data virtualization work?
Data virtualization is the process of creating a single logical view of data from multiple data sources. This can be done by either consolidating the data sources into a data warehouse or by using a data virtualization platform. A data warehouse is a database that is designed for the purpose of consolidating data from multiple data sources. The data in the data warehouse is organized in a way that makes it easy to analyze. A data virtualization platform is a software application that is used to create a single logical view of data from multiple data sources.
How much does data virtualization cost?
This is a difficult question to answer definitively because the cost of data virtualization depends on many factors, including the size and complexity of the data environment, the level of automation desired, and the features and capabilities of the data virtualization platform. However, in general, data virtualization can be a very cost-effective way to improve data efficiency and performance while reducing costs.
One way to measure the potential cost savings of data virtualization is to look at the reduction in the number of servers and storage devices needed to manage the data environment. According to a study by IDC, data virtualization can help organizations reduce the number of servers by up to 50% and the amount of storage required by up to 80%.
How does data federation differ from datavirtualization?
Data federation is the process of bringing together data from multiple heterogeneous data sources into a single global view in a workstation. This can be done in a number of ways, but the goal is always the same: to provide a single point of access to all the data, no matter where it is stored. Data virtualization takes this one step further by not only federating the data, but also virtualizing it. This means that the data is presented as a single entity, even though it may be physically spread out across multiple servers and storage systems.
Data federation and virtualization both have their benefits. Federation allows you to combine data from multiple sources into a single view, which can be helpful for reporting and analysis purposes. Virtualization makes managing that data easier by presenting it as a single entity, regardless of its actual location. This can be especially useful when you need to access data that is spread out over multiple servers and storage systems.
What industries can benefit from data virtualization?
Some specific businesses that can benefit from data virtualization include:
- Businesses with multiple data centers. Data virtualization can help businesses integrate data from multiple data centers, which can improve performance and efficiency.
- Businesses with a large amount of data. Data virtualization can help businesses access all of their data quickly and easily, which can improve performance and efficiency.
- Businesses that need to comply with regulations. Data virtualization can help businesses quickly and easily find and combine data from multiple data sources, which can make complying with regulations much easier.
- Businesses that want to improve their security. Data virtualization can help businesses combine data from multiple data sources, which can improve security by making it harder for hackers to gain access to sensitive data.
Altogether, data virtualization is an important tool for businesses to manage and process large data sets. By using data virtualization, companies can improve their efficiency and make better use of their resources.
