Enterprise data warehouses: Definition and guide

An Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) is a centralized repository that consolidates and standardizes data from all areas of a business, enabling departments to share information easily and improve decision-making. It differs from a regular data warehouse in its size and scope, as it supports multiple departments within an organization with a unified approach to organizing and representing data across various processes and teams. There are three types of EDWs: on-premises, cloud, and hybrid. The architecture of an EDW typically follows a three-tier design, consisting of the data repository, OLAP server, and front-end layer. Benefits of using an EDW include immediate access to actionable data, multi-department collaboration, consolidated and standardized data, empowerment of less technical team members, and adherence to compliance requirements. When evaluating potential vendors for an EDW, consider factors such as compatibility with existing systems, cost structures, scalability, security features, user access controls, fault tolerance, and peer recommendations.