Descriptive analytics, or business intelligence, uses historical information to answer the question “What Happened?” Think of it as a rear-view mirror into business performance or a summary view of facts and figures in an understandable format to either inform or prepare data for further analysis. Observations, case studies, and surveys form the basis of descriptive analytics. Descriptive […]
What Is Data Virtualization?
Data virtualization is a special kind of data integration technology that provides access of data in real time, seamlessly all in one place. Think of it like a television guide which contains a listing of shows on a variety of channels, without having to be on that channel to see the content. In data virtualization, […]
What Is Data Mining?
Data Mining is an older (and now allied) subset of machine learning and artificial intelligence that deals with large data sets. It uses pattern recognition technologies with statistical and mathematical techniques to forecast business trends and find useful patterns. “Data mining is also known as Knowledge Discovery in Data (KDD).” A component of data mining, […]
The Future of Analytics: What is All the Hype About?
Expert’s ears immediately perk up upon attending a talk about how to get big insights from analytics. After all, analytics has become the new hot topic of the day. However, asked Nipa Basu, during her keynote presentation The Future of Analytics at the DATAVERSITY Enterprise Analytics Online Conference: “What is the difference between hype and […]
What Is Data Migration?
Data migration describes transferring data between storage types, formats or computer systems with as little change as possible. Due to acquisitions, relocation, or outgrowing a current system, companies find the need to migrate data. More than just a “lift and shift” approach, good data migration catalyzes rethinking of Data Strategy and Data Architecture through: Upgrading […]
What Is Data Security?
Data security describes the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure people and things take the right actions with data and information assets, even in the presence of malicious inputs. The right actions mean controlling and enabling data activity by balancing needs from: Stakeholders: Protect personal information while allowing access for legitimate transactions agreed upon […]
Machine Learning Transformed: Data Quality and Operational Necessities
Machine learning elicits mixed reactions. On the one hand, some consider machine learning a company’s new super power that has “swept enterprise technology, using mass amounts of data and algorithms to make predictions.” At the same time machine learning has been considered an overhyped fad and a panacea, failing to deliver. While both can be […]
What Is Cognitive Computing?
Cognitive computing, a subfield of artificial intelligence, simulates human thought processes in machines using self-learning algorithms through data mining, pattern recognition, and natural language processing. These artificial environments rely on deep learning algorithms and neural networks to process information by comparing it to a teaching set of data. By mimicking human thought processes, computers help people […]
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage systems without requiring knowledge of the physical location and configuration needed. Cloud computing may be executed on or off premises, and has adopted virtualization, service-oriented architecture, and utility computing. Databases in the cloud may be implemented by: Virtual Machine Image: Users purchase virtual machine instances with […]
The Logical Data Fabric: A Single Place for Data Integration
The ability to provide a single place for instantaneous data access can mean business continuity or closure. Many nations found this out during the recent global crisis, as countries needed to know the number of tests taken and the infection rate in order to determine both the virus’ spread and who to quarantine. Unfortunately, the […]