What is a Data Architecture Framework?

September 7, 2022

What is a data architecture framework?

A data architecture framework is an IT infrastructure designed to support your entire business strategy. The architecture of your data infrastructure is crucial to consistently delivering accurate data. There are a few data architecture types to choose from. These include:

  • One-tier architecture
  • Two-tier architecture
  • Three-tier architecture
  • Hierarchal architecture
  • Relational model
  • Network model

Data architecture models demonstrate the flow of data and where and how it is processed. A data architecture diagram example will paint a detailed picture of this process and give you insight into which model you decide fits best for your business.

There are a number of principles that guide the use of different models. Data architecture best practices are as follows:

  • Discard internal data silos
  • Ensure the trustworthiness of your data
  • Facilitate solid data governance
  • Choose the right tools
  • Account for different data structures and formats
  • Build for the future

The data architecture examples you find online will likely follow these practices. The key is to understand your business and select the appropriate data architecture example that best aligns with your strategy.

Data Architecture Diagram

To create data architecture diagram models, you first need to determine the type you want to make use of. The different models cater to different businesses and different-sized organizations. A data architecture diagram tool can help jumpstart the process, but the needs of your business need to be defined clearly to complete the diagram effectively.  

Finding a tool that can integrate a number of frameworks into a customized data architecture diagram. Acceldata is a great example of a service that can offer multiple data architecture solutions. Tools like these can help ensure your data architecture is custom fit to your business needs.

Data Architecture Principles

Once you’ve decided upon your data architecture framework, there are some principles you will need to become familiar with to ensure continued consistency in data quality. The function of data architecture principles is to guide companies through their data architecture strategy. They are a set of rules that encompass every step of data usage, collection, management, and integration. The modern data architecture principles include:

  • Validate all incoming data
  • Ensure consistency
  • Document everything
  • Avoid duplication

A detailed data architecture principles PDF will expand on these four ideas thoroughly. The goal of the principles is to give an architect guidelines to keep in mind while building the framework itself. Staying in line with these principles will require high-level data architecture patterns. Patterns are used to help discuss the fundamental storage of data, and thus are closely related to the principles listed above.

Data architecture is something that doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Bringing someone on to build one can be a smart move, but you need to ensure they are up for the task.

Consider some of these data architecture principles interview questions to help you vet a potential architect, data engineer, and any other role for the modern data team:

  1. Do you hold any IT certifications?
  2. How long have you worked in data architecture?
  3. What kind of operational improvements did you make at your previous company?
  4. Where did you complete your education?

Data Architecture Tutorial

Even though many of us aren’t qualified to build a data architecture framework ourselves, we all need to understand what goes into them and how they can be used effectively. Fortunately, there are easy ways to find a data architecture tutorial to cover those bases. Data architects will often record their own tutorials once they’ve finished the build.

They will go into greater detail on the data architecture patterns in use and how they dictate some of the lower-level patterns as well. These patterns end up forming – or lending themselves to – the overall data architecture strategy. Even an effective tutorial may leave some with questions, however. Taking a supplemental data architecture course can go a long way for those looking to make the most of their framework.

It can be as simple as finding an introduction to data architecture course online. Knowledge is power, and data architecture is not a simple concept to grasp via basic web searches. Taking the time to educate your team and yourself can go a long way.

Data Architecture PDF

While the topic itself is quite dense, data architecture education is readily available for those looking to optimize their framework. A data architecture PDF can be a helpful tool in understanding the finer details of the concept. For example, the PDF titled Data Architecture Basics: An Illustrated Guide for Non-Technical Readers is an excellent resource for those of us who don’t actually build the frameworks themselves.

There are many types of database architecture to learn and understand. A strong foundation of the basics is required to understand the uses and limitations of all of the different types. Consulting a database architecture example that operates in the same industry as your own could be helpful, but if you don’t have any baseline knowledge of what you are looking at, it won’t do much good.

Knowledge is important for everyone involved. Once your knowledge base has been formed, it is a good idea to build a PowerPoint (PPT) to help inform your staff. To make an effective database architecture PPT, you will need to work with your architect to ensure the most important information isn’t lost. Utilizing a data architecture document template will help organize and detail the relevant information. Even these documents, however, require a solid foundation of subject knowledge to understand.

Data Architecture Design

Making the most of your data architecture design stems from a well-rounded understanding of your business and its data needs. This base of knowledge will guide you through selecting an appropriate framework from the many types of data architecture. It informs your entire data architecture strategy.

For a data architecture framework to be most effective, the entire organization needs a fundamental understanding of the data storage architecture design. Explaining the finer details of the infrastructure will be a wasted endeavor without a company-wide understanding of what makes for the basic structure.

The data architecture design patterns mentioned above are integral aspects of the functionality of the entire design. Without understanding what those patterns entail makes it difficult to make full use of the design itself. Integrating tools like Acceldata will help keep everyone on the same page while still making a powerful data architecture framework. Visit Acceldata today to schedule a demo and optimize your data architecture today.

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