With Web 3.0 on the rise, we’re definitely moving towards a much more data-centric world. Everything around us is data and it’s helping us create better decisions, better products, and provide better services as well as receive them. With everything revolving around data, we now need solutions to store this data. This is where repositories come in.
In simple words, data repositories are virtual storage units that allow us to manage and consolidate data.
Repositories can be of any kind. Developers use code repositories like GitHub for software engineering. The Helm repository by JFrog allows organizations to share Helm charts within the company. Repositories like Azure Data Factory allow data storage and management and are being currently deployed in many institutions.
Repositories have no doubt made life a lot easier. They’ve definitely facilitated the culture of remote work and better collaborations. Data repositories can be public or private. There are many public repositories available on the internet which you can get data from. Just recently, Google launched a free tool by the name of datasetsearch. This tool allows users to search for 25 million datasets that are available among topics such as biology and agriculture, to name a few.
Why Are Data Repositories Useful?
Data repositories for starters, allow critical data to be consolidated in a single place as opposed to it being scattered all over. This practice can later translate towards easier access as well as fast-tracking when it comes to making important business decisions.
Let’s assume you have 5 offices based in the city. You’ve been tasked to see which of these 5 offices is proving to be the most expensive. If you have expense data such as utility bills, administrative expenses, rent expenses, etc. for all 5 offices in a single place with proper documentation, it’ll definitely make things a lot faster to analyze. You won’t have to run from one place to the other to gather critical information you might need.
The Challenges that Come with Data Repositories:
Despite the fact that data repositories make your work life a lot easier, there are some challenges associated with utilizing these databases:
- The Amount of Data: When operating in a repository, there is a database management system involved. You would want to make sure your system is in line with the amount of data you’re going to be working on. For example, you would need a relatively more powerful machine if you’re managing data with millions of entries. You wouldn’t want your system to crash.
- Data Loss: Building on top of system crashes, you would want to make sure that all your data is backed up. Why? Because system crashes can many a time, result in data loss.
- Security Threats: Virtual databases are always at risk of security breaches. Although public repositories are meant to be accessed by everyone, private repositories are only meant for a selected few. It would be wise to take appropriate security measures to ensure your data does not get into the wrong hands.
Things to Look into When Opting for Data Repositories:
When it comes to creating and/or managing data repositories, there are some things you can do to fully reap the benefits. If you’re looking to deploy a database solution within your organization, it’s best to collaborate with your team and all the stakeholders involved to fully understand your data management requirements.
1. Choosing the Right Tool:
Prior to creating a repository, it’s important to understand the scope. Is the repository going to be used to collect psychographic data and analyze trends? Is it to be used to create better decisions within a business? Or will it allow developers to create pull/push requests when coding?
There are various tools on the internet. It’s best to understand which one aligns the most with your business objective.
2. Start Off Slow:
The transition from one repository to another or moving to a repository for the first time overall can be sometimes challenging. The best thing to do here is to start off small, with smaller data sets and lesser subject areas. Then increase the complexity as you start getting used to the program.
3. Automation:
Data repositories are here to make life easier, so try to reduce the manual load wherever possible and automate. Normally, loading and maintaining the data are the best places to do this.
4. Flexibility:
Data repositories should always be built while bearing the element of scalability in mind. Data types are constantly evolving and data collection methods are always subject to change as well.