I’ve done some reading but it’s still not entirely clear on the practical distinctions between DataVault 2.0 and ordinary MCD (Model-Driven Conceptual Data Models). I would appreciate it if someone could clarify to me In what scenarios should I using DataVault 2.0 over an MCD, and vice versa?
Data Vault 2.0 is a method for building data warehouses. It is designed to handle large amounts of data, keep track of historical changes, and ensure data can be audited. This makes it great for complex and large-scale data warehouses.
Model-Driven Conceptual Models (MCD), on the other hand, are used for high-level business data modeling. They are best for the early stages of design or for smaller systems where detailed historical tracking and scalability are not as important.
Here is a comparison:
| Feature | Data Vault 2.0 | Model-Driven Conceptual Model (MCD) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Data warehousing with historical tracking | Conceptual business data modeling |
| Structure | Hub-Satellite-Link, modular | Entity-Relationship |
| Scalability | High scalability, suitable for large data volumes | Limited scalability, suitable for smaller systems |
| Historical Tracking | Yes, inherent | No |
| Auditability | Yes, supports data lineage | No, not designed for auditing |
| Best Use Case | Large data warehouses | Early-stage design or small systems |
| Parallel Processing | Yes, supports parallel job execution | Not applicable |
Data Vault 2.0 is best for building large and complex data warehousing that need to handle a lot of data, track changes over the time and provide a clear audit trail.
MCD is better for the initial design phase or for smaller systems where these features are not as critical.
Hope this helps.