Why We Prefer Data Vault 2.0
Data Vault is more than just a modeling technique. It is a philosophy that puts flexibility and auditability first.
Data Vault 2.0 has established itself as the standard for agile data warehouses. But why do we at Alligator Company rely almost exclusively on this approach?
Flexibility Through Decoupling
The biggest advantage of Data Vault is the strict separation of business keys (Hubs), relationships (Links), and context (Satellites). When source systems change, we don’t have to rebuild the entire model. We simply add new Satellites.
“Data Vault allows us to map changes in business processes without losing historical data.”
Auditability “Out of the Box”
Every record in the Data Vault has a Load Date Timestamp and a Record Source. We know at any point in time where a date came from and when it was loaded. This is essential for compliance requirements in many industries.
Hash Keys Instead of Sequences
By using Hash Keys, we can load data in parallel without having to wait for central sequence generators. This massively increases loading speed, especially on MPP databases like Snowflake or Exasol.
Conclusion
Data Vault 2.0 is more complex at the beginning, but pays off in the long run through lower maintenance costs and higher agility.
