Understanding the concept of Data Virtualization its benefits.

What is a Data Virtualization?

Data virtualization is a unified, virtual data layer with which enterprise applications and users can access any enterprise information regardless of its location, format, or protocol, using the methods that best suit their work needs such as data discovery and search.

Data Virtualization enables distributed databases, as well as multiple heterogeneous data stores, to be accessed and viewed as a single database. Rather than physically performing ETL on data with transformation engines, Data Virtualization servers perform data extract, transform and integrate virtually. Data virtualization uses a simple three-step process—connect, combine, consume—to deliver a holistic view of enterprise information to business users across all of the underlying source systems.

Data virtualization creates an abstraction layer that brings in data from different sources without performing the entire Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) process or creating a separate, integrated platform for viewing data. Instead, it virtually connects to different databases, integrates all the information to provide virtual views, and publishes them as a data service. This enhances data accessibility, making specific bits of information readily available for reporting, analysis, and decision making.

By creating an abstraction layer, data virtualization tools expose only the required data to users without requiring technical details about the location or structure of the data source. As a result, organizations can restrict data access to authorized users only to ensure security and meet data governance requirements.

The DV technology simplifies key processes, such as data integration, federation, and transformation, making data accessible for dashboards, portals, applications, and other front-end solutions. Further, data virtualization architecture proves that integrating data sources using a logical layer is far more effective than collecting raw data on a single data lake.

So, it the Data Virtualization that enables logical data warehouse. Logical Data Warehouse is a new data management architecture for analytics combining the strengths of traditional repository warehouses with alternative data management and access strategy.

Benefits of Data Virtualization (DV)

Data Virtualization (DV) is unlike traditional Data Integration, where change must be made on multiple layers; Data Virtualization makes change easy for the business as new requirements and sources can be integrated and changed rapidly.

Zero Replication: Data is not moved or copied. Instead, it stays where it is and is connected to other sources, no matter the location. This greatly improves the speed at which users can access data.

Abstraction: Business users can access the data without concern about where it resides.

Real-Time Access: As source data is updated or changed, the data is available immediately.

Agility: Changes can be made without impacting the business. Data Virtualization facilitates a universal semantic layer across multiple consuming applications.