Data is the lifeblood of modern businesses, but managing it effectively can be a challenge. This is where the medallion data architecture comes in.
What is it?
The medallion architecture is a design pattern for organizing data within a data lakehouse. It structures information in tiered layers, often referred to as bronze, silver, and gold.
- Bronze: The foundation, holding raw, unprocessed data exactly as it’s ingested.
- Silver: The transformation zone, where data is cleaned, enriched, and validated.
- Gold: A curated fit for use layer containing data for specific use cases, such as reporting, advanced analytics or machine learning.
As data progresses through these tiers, its quality and usability increase. Think of it like refining gold ore: you start with raw material (bronze), then purify it (silver), and finally get the valuable end product (gold).
Why Modern?
The medallion architecture isn’t new, but its application in today’s data landscape is what makes it “modern.” Here’s how it fits:
- Scalability: The modular design allows for easy growth as data volume, number or variety of data sources increases.
- Data Quality: Each layer focuses on increasing the value of your data leading tomore reliable and actionable insights.
- Flexibility: The architecture can adapt to evolving business needs by adding new data sources or modifying transformations.
- Cost: Use the computing power you need, for only the time you need it,saving costs.
Beyond the Basics
The medallion architecture is just one piece of the puzzle. Modern implementations often combine it with other concepts like data mesh, which distributes data ownership across business domains. This fosters collaboration and ensures data remains relevant to specific teams.
In Conclusion
The medallion data architecture provides a solid foundation for extracting value from data in the modern era. By organizing and refining information, it empowers businesses to unlock the true value of their data and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
