IBM researchers Barry Devlin and Paul Murphy introduced the data warehouse in 1988.
Since then, the concept has evolved and taken on a life of its own. The increasing complexity and sophistication of business meant that data warehousing had to become a discipline in its own right. Hundreds of books have been published, and technology and best business practices have evolved.
Cloud Data Warehouse: What Is It?
Cloud data warehouse is a modern method of processing and storing large amounts of data in the public cloud. It allows data to be accessed and used quickly. It is, therefore, an ideal choice for companies whose business depends on data and who need a flexible, resilient, and easy-to-use infrastructure.
The Benefits of Cloud Data Warehouses
One type of data management system, the so-called data warehouse, supports business intelligence activities, particularly data analytics. Data warehouses are designed exclusively for data analysis and query execution. They usually contain large amounts of historical data, often collected from different data sources such as transaction logs and applications. Data warehouses offer several benefits to users by enabling the secure storage of large amounts of data.
Easy Dissemination – Storing data on-site sometimes requires a significant initial investment in financial resources and capacity. Cloud data warehouse allows organizations to expand their resources quickly without a long-term commitment.
Improved Collaboration – Data stored in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere worldwide with an internet connection. This makes it easier for geographically dispersed teams to communicate and share data, enabling better understanding and data-driven decision-making.
Lower Costs – Because cloud data warehouses do not require costly upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure, organizations can reduce operating costs. This means that organizations only pay for the resources they use and do not have to commit to fixed capacities.
Challenges With Cloud Data Warehouse
The main challenges associated with cloud data warehouse are outlined below:
Requires Skilled Resources – New technologies and architectures require new skills, especially in developing, designing, cataloging, and maintaining data warehouses.
Design Support – While cloud providers offer new usage models with potential economic benefits, they could be more helpful in helping organizations design and understand how to implement data warehousing requirements effectively.
Lack of Control – Organizations must be more concerned about the risks of storing and using data in the cloud. Although cloud security has dramatically reduced these concerns, organizations still need a robust data governance structure and processes to know what data is in the cloud, what laws and regulations apply, who is responsible for the data, who can and cannot access it, and what policies apply to its use.
Support for Automation – Iterative processes that enable data warehouse platforms to be scalable, fast, and accurate to deploy can be automated to eliminate delays caused by costly and time-consuming manual processes to develop, deploy, configure, maintain, and replicate data in different environments.
How to Choose a Reliable Cloud Data Warehouse Provider for Your Business?
To ensure that the provider you choose meets the unique needs of your business, consider the following key questions.
Data Volume and Growth – Assess your current and projected data volume, considering the queries’ complexity and delivery speed. Choose a provider whose offering meets your data growth and volume requirements.
Capacity Requirements – Assess your organization’s capacity requirements, such as the time required to respond to queries and support concurrent users. Select a provider that meets the capacity requirements to support data-driven projects.
Scalability – Choose a cloud data warehouse provider that is flexible and scalable to accommodate future data growth without a significant initial investment. Flexible scalability is essential to meet changing business needs.
Cost – Analyze pricing models based on the cost of processing, storing, and transferring data. Take advantage of the cloud data warehouse to ensure return on investment and cost efficiency.
Integration Capabilities – Ensure your vendor’s solution works well with existing business applications, BI tools, and data sources. Integration is essential for effective use of data across the organization.
Security and Compliance – Check the vendor has compliance certifications and security procedures. Data security and compliance are essential to meeting regulatory requirements and maintaining trust.
Vendor Support – Assess technical support, documentation, and customer training. Comprehensive support is essential to ensure smooth operations and quick resolution of problems.
Summary
Rising energy costs are forcing cloud service providers to raise prices, and the cloud computing ecosystem must respond to these changes in new ways. Organizations consider different options but are concerned about data control and other issues.
Organizations need to navigate the cloud of opportunity and carefully evaluate it to meet their specific needs and priorities. Existbi is a leading provider of intelligent cloud and data warehouse solutions. We use advanced technologies to provide organizations with robust and scalable architectures and unparalleled data optimization. Our multidisciplinary expertise translates into tailored solutions that improve operational efficiency. From end-to-end data management to dynamic cloud data warehouse integration, our solutions redefine organizational capabilities.
