Data architecture

Data architecture is a framework for how IT infrastructure supports your data strategy. The goal of any data architecture is to show the company’s infrastructure how data is acquired, transported, stored, queried, and secured. A data architecture is the foundation of any data strategy.

Data architecture is a discipline that documents an organization’s data assets, maps how data flows through its systems and provides a blueprint for managing data. The goal is to ensure that data is managed properly and meets business needs for information.

While data architecture can support operational applications, it most prominently defines the underlying data environment for business intelligence (BI) and advanced analytics initiatives. Its output includes a multilayer framework for data platforms and data management tools, as well as specifications and standards for collecting, integrating, transforming and storing data.