Data Architecture

Data Architecture

Data Architecture Jonathan Poland

Data architecture refers to the principles, structures, standards, controls, models, transformations, interfaces, and technologies that define how data is stored, secured, curated, managed, and used in an organization or system. This includes the systems and processes that allow an organization to efficiently and securely acquire, use, and manage data. Data architecture helps ensure that an organization can access the data it needs, when it needs it, in a way that is secure and compliant with any relevant regulations or standards.

Principles

Data architecture principles are foundational rules that guide the structure, use and management of data. For example, the principle that “data is a shared asset” can be useful for encouraging solution architects to use data repositories that already exist as opposed to replicating things.

Standards

Data architecture standards are structures, practices and technologies that an organization adopts to avoid reinventing things for every system, application or analysis. For example, an organization might adopt a standard way to publish and subscribe to data.

Structure

Data architecture is the structural design of information technologies for acquiring, storing, using, securing and managing data. A data architecture diagram captures the layers, interfaces, technologies and flows of data. These are typically produced at the organizational, system, application and solution level.

Models

A data model defines the structure of data itself. This includes data entities and relationships between entities.

Data Dictionary

A data dictionary is a reference that provides a user friendly overview of data entities, fields, formats, validations and business context. This can be used both by software developers and users. For example, a user who wants to build a report might reference a data dictionary to see what data is available.

Patterns

Patterns describe standard ways to acquire, store, transform, share, use, secure and manage data. For example, data architecture may include a sequence diagram that illustrates how to build a report from an organization’s data warehouse.

Controls

Data controls are roles, responsibilities, processes, procedures and systems for managing data. For example, a data architecture might define how data is encrypted in storage and the processes for managing encryption keys.

Integration

Data architecture may include structures and specifications for publishing, consuming, transferring and transforming data.

Master Data

Data architecture may define a single source of truth for data entities and methods for using and managing master data.

Technologies

The process of defining a data architecture often involves evaluation and selection of information technologies for data storage, analysis, integration, management, security and curation. For example, a data architect may perform a product evaluation as part of the procurement of a extract, transform and load tool. A data architecture document typically provides an overview of selected technologies including their capabilities, limitations and risks.

Deployment

A data architecture typically includes a diagram that captures how the architecture is physically deployed to infrastructure. This is similar to the logical data architecture diagram with details of machines, platforms, environments and technologies.

Learn More
One Stop Shop Jonathan Poland

One Stop Shop

A one stop shop model is a business model in which a single company or organization offers a wide range…

Sales Tactics Jonathan Poland

Sales Tactics

Sales tactics are specific strategies or approaches that salespeople use to persuade customers to buy a product or service. Sales…

What is Reliability? Jonathan Poland

What is Reliability?

Reliability is a measure of the ability of a product or service to perform consistently and predictably over time. It…

Drip Marketing Jonathan Poland

Drip Marketing

Drip marketing, also known as drip campaigns, is a strategy that involves sending targeted and personalized marketing messages to a…

Recursive Self-improvement Jonathan Poland

Recursive Self-improvement

Recursive self-improvement refers to software that is able to write its own code and improve itself in a repeated cycle…

Examples of Tact Jonathan Poland

Examples of Tact

Tact is the ability to sensitively and skillfully handle a situation or conversation so as to avoid giving offense. It…

What is a Durable Product? Jonathan Poland

What is a Durable Product?

A durable product is a product that is designed to last for an extended period of time, typically several years…

Risk Mitigation Jonathan Poland

Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation is the process of identifying, analyzing, and taking steps to reduce or eliminate risks to an individual or…

Negotiation Tactics Jonathan Poland

Negotiation Tactics

Negotiation tactics are strategies and techniques used in the process of negotiation to help achieve an individual or group’s objectives.…

Search →

Key Bridge

People. Profit. Progress.

Business is the lifeblood of progress and you are the driving force regardless of where you fit in the value chain. People drive profit by bringing useful products and services to market. Profit drives progress by allowing the best ideas to emerge and the best investments to win.

This is the cycle of capital that moves the world forward and that’s why I started Key Bridge, a private membership for the pursuit of profit and progress, a platform for building better assets, tackling global challenges, and advancing the greater good.

Key Bridge

People. Profit. Progress.

Business is the lifeblood of progress and you are the driving force regardless of where you fit in the value chain. People drive profit by bringing useful products and services to market. Profit drives progress by allowing the best ideas to emerge and the best investments to win.

This is the cycle of capital that moves the world forward and that’s why I started Key Bridge, a private membership for the pursuit of profit and progress, a platform for building better assets, tackling global challenges, and advancing the greater good.