Data in a Hybrid Cloud World – The Case for a Data Fabric Strategy
In today’s hybrid cloud environment, we tend to think of compute as being agile, data decidedly less so. Yet data, and the information and value it contains, is one of the most critical asset to an organization. Unlocking the static nature of data is a key component of a flexible and dynamic hybrid cloud environment. Cloud environments however appear to be the “Hotel California” repository for your data; “you can check out any time you like but you can never leave”. To seamlessly integrate data into a dynamic and unified view across the entire cloud ecosystem for the life-cycle of your data requires the adoption of a data fabric strategy.
The Data Fabric Definition
So, what is “data fabric”? To address that, let me ask how do you keep track of your data both inside and outside the data center, what controls are in place for your data in the cloud environment, do you have line of sight to your data at all times, and how do you secure your data from unauthorized access and unauthorized environments in hybrid cloud domains? The most likely answer is not well, very little, not really and that can’t be fully achieved. None of those answers are acceptable.
Conceptually, data fabric works to encapsulate your data to help you view, control, manage, access and move data through hybrid cloud environments over the entire data life-cycle. It is a set of capabilities working together to provide management (from creation to archival), agility (accessibility, mobility, portability) and data services.
Creating a data fabric though requires the proper data management strategy. A strategy that employs a controlled approach to how you organize, protect and secure your data in a hybrid cloud. In my next blog, I’ll discuss the evolving role of data management, data mobility and data services in creating a data fabric strategy.
Enterprise Cloud 