There have been a number of questions coming my way about Delphix versus snapshot technologies. The capabilities of Delphix can be differentiated from snapshot technologies through the following hierarchy:
Data Supply Chain (Delphix approach to data management)
Data Virtualization (end-to-end collection and provisioning of thin clones)
Thin Cloning
Storage Snapshots
On top we have the most powerful and advanced data management features that enable fast, easy, secure, audit-able data flow through organizations.
Data Supply Chain is built on top of other technologies. On the bottom we have the minimal building blocks starting with storage snapshots. Storage snapshots can be used to make “thin clone” databases. Storage snapshots have been around for nearly 2 decades but have seen little usage for database thin cloning due to the technical and managerial hurdles. Part of the difficulty with creating thin clones is that thin cloning requires work by multiple people and/or teams such as as DBAs, system admins, storage admins etc it takes to create the thin clones.
In order to overcome the obstacles creating thin clones, all the steps can be optimized and automated in a process called data virtualization.
Data Virtualization is just the first step in automation. The next step is adding all the processes, functionality and control to manage the virtual data which is Data Supply Chain.
File system snapshots such as ZFS address the very bottom of the hierarchy, that is, they only manage storage snapshots. They have no automated thin cloning of databases. Without automated thin cloning of databases there is no end-to-end processing of data from source to thin cloned target i.e. data virtualization. With out data virtualization there is no data supply chain.
Data Supply Chain features, all of which are encompassed by Delphix, include
Security
Masking
Chain of custody
Self Service
Login and Roles
Restrictions
Developer
Data Versioning and Branching
Refresh, Rollback
Audit
Live Archive
Modernization
Unix to Linux conversion
Data Center migration
Federated data cloning
Consolidation
Data Supply Chain re-invents data management and provisioning by virtualizing, governing, and delivering data on demand.
Most businesses manage data delivery with manual, ad hoc processes: users file change requests, then wait for DBAs, systems administrators, and storage administrators to push data from system to system, bogging down production applications, networks, and target systems with long load times. Data delays cost businesses billions a year in lost productivity and low utilization of systems and software resources.
As a result, there an enormous opportunity to optimize data management. Data management can be optimized with data supply chain yielding significant business impact:
Drive revenue, competitive differentiation with faster application time to market
Enable faster growth via better release management of enterprise applications
Improve customer intimacy, upsell, cross-sell with faster, more flexible analytics
Free budget for innovation by reducing IT maintenance costs
Reduce compliance risk through better governance, data security.
Businesses need to manage data as a strategic asset across their operations, applying the same rigor as supply chain optimization for manufacturing companies.
Data Supply Chain Transformation Process with Delphix
Delphix applies a three-step process to transform the data supply chain:
Analyze: survey systems, processes, teams across data supply chains
Transform: virtualize, automate data delivery with centralized governance
Leverage: drive business value via new data products, process optimization
Businesses typically manage multiple data supply chains simultaneously, all of which are targets for data chain optimization:
Compliance retention, reporting
Modernization, migration projects
Application projects and development
BI, analytics
Data protection.
Delphix re-invents the data supply chain with its Virtual Data Platform:
Install data engines in hours across all repositories, locations (including cloud)
Connect: non-disruptively sync data across sites, systems, architectures
Control: secure data, track release versions, preserve and prove data history
Deploy: automatically launch virtual data environments in 10x less space, time
Leverage data with self service refresh, reset, branching, bookmarks, integration.
According to an IDC study, Delphix pays for itself in IT savings, with an average payback of 4.3 months.
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