Data warehousing services are designed for companies that do not have the time, expertise, or resources to effectively manage a cloud data warehouse. As businesses navigate the complex terrains of data-driven strategies, having a robust data warehouse service is non-negotiable.
Whether you’re migrating to a cloud data warehouse solution or seeking expert cloud data warehouse consulting services, this article will guide you to the types of services available to help your business along your data analytics journey. First we’ll review some data warehousing basics, including terms and concepts.
Understanding Data Warehouse Basics
What is a data warehouse?
A data warehouse is a specialized database designed for data analytics. This is best understood by comparing a data warehouse to an application database.
Web and mobile applications use a database to store data. An application database like Postgres, MySQL, SQL Server, or Mongo DB is designed for speed and accuracy for applications. The reading and writing transactions in an application database update only a few records at a time. An example might be an e-commerce customer saving a new order.
In contrast, a data warehouse is designed for aggregated analytics. An example from e-commerce might be getting the average order size. This requires reading all records and performing a calculation across millions or billions of records. Similar to the example of reading data, data warehouses are designed to load data in bulk from application databases or other data sources.
So, data warehouses are designed to support data analytics operations. They perform faster, are more cost-effective to scale, and are easier to manage for data analytics.
Read more: Data Warehouses vs. Data Lakes vs. Data Marts
What is the primary purpose of a data warehouse?
A data warehouse’s primary purpose is to power data analysis. It is a database that is central to any data architecture. Raw data flows into the warehouse, is transformed into metrics and insights, and flows out of the warehouse to the audiences that need it.
A related and important purpose for a data warehouse is to be a place that provides access to consistent, fresh metrics and KPIs for a business to use in decision-making.
Why use a data warehouse?
Often organizations will attempt to use some other technology for data analytics purposes. And often they make good progress towards their goals.
However, they quickly realize that the performance, scalability, and maintenance of other technologies are not as good as using a data warehouse technology.
Who needs a data warehouse?
Any organization attempting to combine data from multiple systems and databases for the purpose of data analytics should use a data warehouse.
What is an enterprise data warehouse?
The difference between an “enterprise” data warehouse from a “regular” data warehouse is often just marketing speak.
All cloud data warehouse providers offer a tiered subscription model or a way to get additional “enterprise” features beyond the core data warehouse services. Enterprise data warehouse solutions include things like single sign-on, audit logs, stronger encryption, and finger-grained permission management.
Because these features are available in the SaaS model of the cloud data warehouse vendors, you can upgrade in the future if you do not need them now.
What is a Snowflake data warehouse?
Snowflake is a data warehouse as a service vendor. Snowflake’s major innovation early in product development was to separate the storage of data from the computation of queries and data transformations.
This innovation took full advantage of some of the cloud’s strengths: cheap storage and scalable computing power. Until Snowflake, cloud data warehouse solutions were not as cost-efficient or scalable.
The Role of ETL in data warehousing
ETL stands for Extract, Transform, Load. In any cloud data warehouse solution, data must be replicated from where it originates. This process is commonly referred to as extracting (from the source system) and loading (into the data warehouse).
The T stands for data Transformation. This is the process of combining data from multiple data sources into a single reporting model and performing any necessary calculations.
Read our complete guide on ETL/ELT to learn more.
Data Warehousing Services
Now that we reviewed the basics data warehousing, we’ll dive into the types of services and consulting available.
Data Warehouse as a Service (DWaaS)
Adopting new technology is an exciting venture that can significantly enhance your business operations. It opens up a myriad of new capabilities, allowing you to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and gain valuable insights from your data. Data Warehouse as a Service (DWaaS) is a prime example of this innovation, as it not only manages the organization of your data warehouse for optimal performance and usability but also ensures robust security measures are in place.
Additionally, DWaaS provides continuous monitoring of costs, enabling businesses to manage their budgets effectively while leveraging advanced data analytics. This combination of performance, security, and cost management makes DWaaS an invaluable asset for any forward-thinking organization.
Key Components of DWaaS:
Storage:
DWaaS provides scalable and flexible storage solutions that can handle vast amounts of structured and unstructured data. This storage is typically cloud-based, allowing for easy access and management. Users can scale their storage needs up or down based on demand, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
Compute:
The compute component refers to the processing power required to analyze and manipulate data. DWaaS platforms offer on-demand computing resources, enabling users to run complex queries and perform data transformations without the need for extensive on-premises infrastructure. This elasticity allows businesses to optimize performance based on workload requirements.
Data Integration Tools:
Data integration tools are essential for consolidating data from various sources into the data warehouse. DWaaS solutions often include built-in ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) capabilities or support for third-party integration tools. These tools facilitate seamless data ingestion, ensuring that data is accurate, consistent, and readily available for analysis.
Data Analytics and Reporting:
DWaaS platforms typically come with advanced analytics and reporting features that enable users to derive insights from their data. This includes support for business intelligence (BI) tools, dashboards, and visualization capabilities. Users can create custom reports and perform ad-hoc analysis, empowering data-driven decision-making across the organization.
Security and Compliance:
Security is a critical component of DWaaS, as it involves sensitive data. Providers implement robust security measures, including encryption, access controls, and regular audits, to protect data from unauthorized access and breaches. Additionally, DWaaS solutions often comply with industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), ensuring that organizations meet legal and compliance requirements.
Scalability:
DWaaS solutions are designed to grow with your business, allowing for easy scaling of resources as data volumes and user demands increase.
Data Warehouse Strategy & Design
This service allows you to organize your data and maximize its impact on your business, without worrying about technical constraints. Data warehouse strategy and design services include best practices for warehouse design, usually deployed during onboarding to the warehouse.
As your data capabilities expand, this data warehouse solution ensures your cloud data warehouse stays organized and optimized.
Data Warehouse Development, Migrations & Support
Most likely, you aren’t starting from scratch. Cloud data warehouse consulting services can consolidate your current state onto this data warehouse solution. The result is a centralized, consistent solution based on best practices for modern data warehouse design.
As your data strategy grows and changes, havinga a managed warehouse ensures you stay agile and flexible, with high-touch support.
Data Warehouse Management & Optimization
In any complex technology system, things can and will go wrong. Managed warehouse services monitor security and cost, so you are aware of things that need your attention.
Best practices for optimal organization generally get applied automatically as part of a managed warehouse cloud data warehouse solution.
Data Warehouse Technology
Most managed warehouse services support Snowflake and Google BigQuery. Take advantage of modern best practices from cloud data warehouse solutions. You can use the best data warehouse technology available, without worrying about all the constraints and nuances to maximize your investment in data and analytics.
Benefits of Using Data Warehouse Services & Consulting
Data Warehousing is a specific engineering discipline. Here’s why using a data warehouse consultant is to your advantage:
1. Expertise and Experience
Data warehousing consultants bring specialized knowledge and experience to the table. They understand best practices, industry standards, and the latest technologies, ensuring that your data warehouse is set up and maintained optimally.
2. Time Efficiency
By outsourcing data warehousing services, companies can focus on their core business activities rather than getting bogged down in the complexities of data management. This allows for quicker implementation and faster access to insights.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
Engaging with data warehousing services can be more cost-effective than building an in-house team. It eliminates the need for hiring, training, and retaining specialized staff, as well as reducing overhead costs associated with infrastructure.
4. Scalability
Data warehousing services are designed to scale with your business. As your data needs grow, these services can easily adapt, providing the necessary resources without the hassle of upgrading internal systems.
5. Security and Compliance
Professional data warehousing services prioritize security and compliance with regulations. They implement robust security measures and ensure that your data is protected against breaches, which is crucial for maintaining customer trust and meeting legal requirements.
6. Continuous Monitoring and Support
With consulting services, businesses benefit from ongoing support and monitoring. This proactive approach helps identify and resolve issues before they escalate, ensuring that your data warehouse operates smoothly.
Conclusion
In summary, leveraging data warehouse services and consulting not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides access to expertise, cost savings, scalability, security, and continuous support, making it a strategic choice for businesses looking to harness the power of their data.
Get Started Today With Data Warehousing Services
Datateer’s Data Warehouse as a Service provides comprehensive cloud data warehouse management, allowing your business to harness the full potential of its data without the burden of managing complex systems.
With our expert consulting services, we ensure optimal performance, security, and cost efficiency, enabling you to focus on driving impactful insights.
Fill out the form below to speak with one of our data warehouse experts and see how we can help your organization’s data thrive!
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