What is a Data Repository?

A data repository refers to an enterprise data storage entity (or sometimes entities) into which data has been specifically partitioned for an analytical or reporting purpose.

What do I need to know about data repositories?

The term “data repository” is often used interchangeably with a data warehouse or a data mart. It is a more generalized term, favored when the specific type of data storage entity is not known or is irrelevant to the context. The purpose of a data repository is to keep a certain population of data isolated so that it can be mined for greater insight or business intelligence or to be used for a specific reporting need. 

Is a data repository a product?

No. It is a general term to refer to a purpose-built segmentation of data that the business needs for reporting or downstream analytics. However, a data repository can be an instance of a commercial or open source data storage product, such as Oracle or Hadoop. 

What are the benefits of a data repository?

The primary benefit is ease of reporting or analysis due to isolation from other data. If you wanted to know which of your remote offices is the most expensive to operate, you could create a data repository for leases, energy costs, facilities, security and utilization, leaving out personnel or business function data.