Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Data lake governance: Benefits, challenges and getting started

  A data lake that isn't well governed might become more of a swamp. Explore the key benefits and challenges of data governance in a data lake, plus initial steps to take.  Continue Reading

• Comparing DBMS vs. RDBMS: Key differences

  A relational database management system is the most popular type of DBMS for business uses. Find out how RDBMS software differs from other DBMS technologies.  Continue Reading

• DBMS keys: 8 types of keys defined

  Here's a guide to primary, super, foreign and candidate keys, what they're used for in relational database management systems and the differences among them.  Continue Reading

• How to build a data catalog: 10 key steps

  A data catalog helps business and analytics users explore data assets, find relevant data and understand what it means. Here are 10 important steps for building one.  Continue Reading

• What are the main features of data catalog software?

  Data catalogs are curated data portals for self-service analytics users. Learn about the capabilities of data catalog tools, vendors that sell them and how catalogs work.  Continue Reading

• What is an enterprise data strategy?

  Defining a data strategy can help focus an organization's data management initiatives -- but it isn't the same as data governance. Expert Anne Marie Smith explains why.  Continue Reading

• What is the best structure for data governance programs?

  The optimal approach to a data governance framework includes a program team, a data governance council and stewards. Expert Anne Marie Smith explains what role each group plays.  Continue Reading

• 5 to-dos for your GDPR compliance checklist

  It's never too late to fine-tune your GDPR strategy. Expert Anne Marie Smith suggests a current state analysis of your PII protections, drafting a data privacy policy and more.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between DDL and DML?

  What's the difference between DDL and DML? Get the answer and see examples of data manipulation language and data definition language commands for SQL databases.  Continue Reading

• What does the GDPR definition of personal data include?

  The definition of personal data in the EU's GDPR data protection rules is broad enough to include any type of data that can be used to directly or indirectly identify a person.  Continue Reading

• Dimension tables vs. fact tables: What's the difference?

  Fact tables and dimension tables are used together in star schemas to support data analytics applications. But they play different roles and hold different types of data.  Continue Reading

• Operational data store vs. data warehouse: How do they differ?

  Operational data stores and data warehouses both store operational data, but the similarities between them end there -- and they both have a role to play in analytics architectures.  Continue Reading

• What are key features for choosing the best ETL tools for your needs?

  Choosing the right ETL tool for your data integration requirements can be a challenge. Here's a rundown on what to look for in ETL software and potential vendors to consider.  Continue Reading

• Five steps to implementing an MDM program

  Instituting a master data management program involves discovery, analysis, construction, implementation and sustainment processes, according to MDM expert Anne Marie Smith.  Continue Reading

• Seven best practices to boost big data governance efforts

  Governing big data is much like governing other data, though businesses must adjust governance processes to accommodate larger, more varied data sets.  Continue Reading

• Key issues to consider when building a data warehouse

  There are numerous issues, both technical and cultural, that organizations need to consider before building a data warehouse. Learn what they are from our data warehousing expert.  Continue Reading

• Six tips for improving data warehouse performance

  Get six expert tips for improving data warehouse performance. Learn how database engines, SSDs and MOLAP cubes can affect your data warehouse performance.  Continue Reading

• How to get senior execs to buy into a data governance plan

  Learn how to get senior management to buy into data governance. Get tips on selling data governance policies and processes to executives who can approve data governance programs.  Continue Reading

• What’s the best way to conduct an MDM implementation?

  Is it better for companies to go with an enterprise-wide master data management (MDM) implementation or deploy MDM departmentally? Find out which approach our MDM expert prefers.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between data definition language (DDL) and SQL?

  Learn the difference between a data definition language (DDL), also known as data descriptive language, and the Structured Query Language (SQL). Find examples of both DDL and SQL.  Continue Reading

• Steps for converting a logical data model into a physical data model

  Learn how to convert a logical data model into a physical data model via data modeling best practices. Find out how DDL and your data modeling practices play a role in conversions.  Continue Reading

• What are aggregate tables and aggregate fact tables?

  Here you'll see examples and read definitions of aggregate tables and aggregate fact tables. You'll also learn how to use aggregate tables in data warehouses and databases.  Continue Reading

• Data warehouse concepts: Data flow and sending data to source systems

  Learn about a data warehouse concept: data flow. And find out if it's a good idea to flow data from your data warehouse or data marts back to source systems.  Continue Reading

• What is the difference between a logical and physical warehouse design?

  What's the difference between logical design and physical design? Get an expert's take, plus learn about three data warehouse models -- the user model, physical model and logical model -- and how they differ.  Continue Reading

• Six criteria for master data management (MDM) tool evaluation

  Starting to evaluate MDM tools and software? Know what six areas you should look at to make sure you choose the best vendor and tool for your business needs.  Continue Reading

• Is it better to have a centralized or decentralized master data structure?

  Should your master data be centralized or decentralized? Get an expert's take, plus find out how different MDM architecture styles affect your master data and MDM hub.  Continue Reading

• How to select an MPP database: DB2 vs. Teradata

  Should you run a massively parallel processing (MPP) database with DB2 or Teradata? Find out how to compare DB2 vs. Teradata and how to choose a database system and with advice from a data warehouse expert.  Continue Reading

• Four must-have master data management project skills

  There are four important master data management project skills needed for MDM projects and development efforts. Discover what they are and learn about MDM job roles and responsibilities in this tip.  Continue Reading

• Defining dimensional vs. normalized database design, dimension vs. fact tables

  Find out if your existing database is in dimensional style or normalized database design style, learn the benefits and drawbacks of fact-dimension and normalized database schemas and read a comparison of dimension tables vs. fact tables.  Continue Reading

• What are the most common system implementation mistakes?

  Learn about some of the biggest mistakes in system implementation and why successful implementations are few and far between. Find out how to avoid these pitfalls with careful planning and more tips from our project management expert.  Continue Reading

• What are the components of service-oriented architecture (SOA)?

  What are the components that make up service-oriented SOA? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• What's the difference between SOA and Web services?

  How are Web services and service oriented architecture (SOA) different? Find out in this expert response.  Continue Reading

• Definition of data abstraction and data abstraction layers

  Data abstraction simplifies database design. Learn the definition of data abstraction and find out the three formal kinds of abstraction layers, from a database expert.  Continue Reading

• How to evaluate data warehouse software in five steps

  Get five steps to evaluating data warehouse software from a data warehouse expert.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise versus project level conceptual data modeling

  Learn the differences between enterprise level and project level conceptual data modeling, and find out how both approaches are compatible.  Continue Reading

• Data model conversion: Conceptual design to logical design using an ER model

  Learn two common approaches to converting a data model from a conceptual design to a logical design.  Continue Reading

• Can a dimension table be a fact table for another data mart?

  Find out if a dimension table can be a fact table for another data mart -- and get an explanation of the answer.  Continue Reading

• The ETL process and MySQL

  Get advice on the ETL process and ETL tools for transforming raw data in MySQL.  Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of a conceptual data model?

  Learn the functions and potential benefits of a conceptual data model, from data modeling expert Pete Stiglich.  Continue Reading

• Ralph Kimball vs. Bill Inmon approaches to data warehouse design

  Learn about the debate between the Ralph Kimball and Bill Inmon approaches to data warehouse design.  Continue Reading

• VSAM vs. DB2

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• How to limit the number of records in a cursor using DB2 native SQL?

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• Multiplying fields from different tables

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