What is a data repository?

A data repository is a secure, accessible data storage space containing specific data partitioned and made available for analysis or reporting. This data is combined from different sources, such as databases, enterprise applications, or external systems. In essence, data repositories provide a secure and structured environment for data, similar to a well-organized library.

Technical users, such as business analysts, are able to access and analyze the data in the repository through tools such as business intelligence solutions. Data within the data repository is organized and structured, based on standardized schemas and consistent metadata to help ensure that it can be easily found and consumed.As well as enterprise use, academics and researchers use online data repositories to store and share datasets, especially when submitting research papers for peer-reviewed publication, where assessors need to be able to access and understand the underlying data behind academic work.

What are the key components of data repositories?

Data repositories are built on these components:

• A centralized storage space
• A structured environment for data
• Metadata management
• Access control and security features

What are examples of data repositories? 

A data repository can follow one of many different technologies and approaches, including:

• Data warehouse
• Data lake
• Data mart
• Metadata repository
• Data cube

What are the benefits of a data repository?

By isolating specific data and making it available through a data repository, organizations benefit from:

• A structured environment for accessing, finding and sharing data that is visible and available to all registered users
• Faster and easier reporting and analysis based solely on relevant data
• A single, centralized source containing all relevant data that combines information from multiple systems and preserves it for the organization 
• Better sharing of data with technical experts across the organization, enhanced by strong metadata
• Greater collaboration between multiple users, enabling them to work together on projects
• Easier data management due to the partitioned nature of data repositories
• Improved data quality and accuracy as repositories monitor data as it is added/updated for any errors

What are the disadvantages of a data repository?

While centralizing specific data in a data repository brings benefits, it also leads to a number of potential challenges:

Data consistency

Data comes from multiple different systems and sources, meaning it might vary in its structure, format and level of quality. This can require lengthy quality and governance processes to ensure consistency. 

Single point of failure

If all relevant data is stored in a single system, issues such as IT crashes could prevent the data repository being used effectively, with data unavailable and inaccessible.

Performance

As data within the data repository grows, and the number of users increases, performance can deteriorate, slowing down query response times and causing users to become frustrated.

Security and governance

Strong governance and access management capabilities are required to protect data as it is shared more widely through a data repository. As data is centralized it is more vulnerable to both security breaches by hackers and unauthorized access by employees. On the governance side it can be difficult to map ownership of data and enforce corporate governance policies and processes, risking non-compliance with regulations such as the GDPR. 

Focus on technical users

The biggest issue with data repositories is that they are designed solely to be used by technical experts. They are specialist tools and are not intuitive or seamless enough for business users. This limits data sharing and consumption, and is one of the major differences between a data repository and a data marketplace. 

Do not provide access to all data
As well as not democratizing data access, data repositories only contain a subset of a company’s data. While this may meet the needs of some technical users, it does not enable business users to easily discover and consume the data they require in their daily working lives.