Using Data Virtualization to Maximize Return on Data Warehousing Investments

Data virtualization, which leverages virtual data federation or enterprise information integration (EII) middleware, provides three critical capabilities:

Data virtualization serves up data as if it is available from one virtual data store, regardless of how it is physically distributed across source data silos. Query optimization and caching enable the high performance required to meet latency objectives without physical replication.

Data abstraction simplifies complex data by transforming it from its native structure and syntax into reusable views and Web services that are easy for applications developers to understand and the applications themselves to consume. Common higher-level abstractions might include customers, invoices, shipments, payments and more that can be shared across numerous applications.

Data federation securely accesses diverse operational and historical data, combining it into more complete and meaningful information for a range of application uses.