Data fabric, data lakehouse, and data mesh have recently appeared as viable alternatives to the modern data warehouse. These new architectures have solid benefits, but they’re also surrounded by a lot of hyperbole and confusion. In this presentation, I will give you a guided tour of each architecture to help you understand its pros and cons. I will also examine common data architecture concepts, including data warehouses and data lakes. You’ll learn what data lakehouses can help you achieve, and how to distinguish data mesh hype from reality. Best of all, you’ll be able to determine the most appropriate data architecture for your needs. And I’ll finish by discussing Microsoft’s version of the data mesh.  

The content is derived from my book Deciphering Data Architectures: Choosing Between a Modern Data Warehouse, Data Fabric, Data Lakehouse, and Data Mesh.

Speaker: James Serra

I work at Microsoft as a big data and data warehousing solution architect where I have been for most of the last nine years.  I am a thought leader in the use and application of Big Data and advanced analytics, including data architectures such as the modern data warehouse, data lakehouse, data fabric, and data mesh.  Previously I was an independent consultant working as a Data Warehouse/Business Intelligence architect and developer.  I started my career as a software developer, then was a DBA for 12 years, and for the last twelve years I have been working extensively with business intelligence and data warehousing using numerous Microsoft technologies and tools. I am a popular blogger and speaker, having presented at dozens of major events including SQLBits, PASS Summit, Data Summit and the Enterprise Data World conference.