In business today, hundreds or even thousands of different business applications may be running within an enterprise computing environment. The amount of data touched or generated by these applications is huge. The format of the data varies widely, from traditional relational database formats to Extensible Markup Language (XML) to free-text formats, such as emails or blogs. Without a comprehensive plan to manage and integrate these data types, an organization cannot make full use of the data. In the worst-case scenario, the mismanagement of data could cause serious problems for a business.

In this slim book, the author provides an overview of issues and strategies for data management in four parts. The first part, “Introduction to Data Integration,” discusses the concept and process of data integration, its importance and complexity, and the different types. The next part concentrates on batch data integration, which takes place offline. The subjects presented in this part include how to extract, convert, and archive data. When data conversion and analysis have to be done online, or live, different issues arise. Part 3 explores the concepts, techniques, and models for managing data in real time. The last part of the book encompasses a collection of more recent topics in data management, including big data, cloud computing, and virtual data.

The highlight of the book is that the author is able to present a broad, complicated subject in a coherent, consolidated, and readable manner. This is ideal for busy information technology managers and chief technical officers who have little time for outside reading. The book is especially valuable for those managers who are not familiar with modern data management or who are fluent in general computing technology but are tasked with managing data on a larger scale. The author covers all of the major topics of data management so readers can gain a comprehensive view of the subject. It is possible to complete the book in a few concentrated hours, or in a few days in between tasks, due to the book’s size. The 37 diagrams, most of which are flowcharts, effectively illustrate the concepts presented in the book. In addition, there is a collection of expert interviews and sidebar information on various subjects based on the author’s own experiences. These extra items help make the book more lively and more closely connected to real-world scenarios.

Readers will not find in the book any discussion of the specific technology needed for modern data management. This is not a reference book of any kind. It is not meant to be a source for answers when any particular technique is needed. The book is written for those who want to gain an overall understanding of modern data management, as well as those in managerial positions who communicate with technical staff about data management projects.

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