In the context of cloud computing, what does "elasticity" refer to, especially concerning capacity planning and scalability?
- The ability to stretch virtual resources infinitely
- The capability to adapt resource allocation dynamically based on workload
- The capacity to quickly secure cloud resources
- The degree of physical flexibility in data centers
Elasticity in cloud computing refers to the ability to dynamically scale resources up or down based on workload demands. It enables efficient capacity planning and scalability, allowing organizations to pay for only the resources they use. This is a key aspect of cloud computing efficiency.
Which term refers to the process of identifying and correcting (or removing) errors and inconsistencies in data?
- Data Aggregation
- Data Cleansing
- Data Profiling
- Data Transformation
The process of identifying and correcting (or removing) errors and inconsistencies in data is known as "Data Cleansing." Data cleansing involves detecting and resolving issues like missing values, duplicates, and inaccuracies, ensuring data quality and reliability.
What is the primary purpose of a Data Warehouse?
- Data Analysis
- Data Backup
- Data Entry
- Data Extraction
The primary purpose of a Data Warehouse is to facilitate data analysis. Data Warehouses consolidate and store data from various sources, making it available for in-depth analysis, reporting, and decision-making. It provides a centralized repository for historical and current data, enabling businesses to gain insights and make data-driven decisions.
The _______ component in a data warehouse architecture facilitates the end-users to query the data without needing to write SQL queries.
- Data Access Layer
- Data Processing Engine
- Data Warehousing Server
- Query Optimization
The "Data Access Layer" in a data warehouse architecture is responsible for providing a user-friendly interface that allows end-users to query the data without requiring them to write SQL queries. This component enhances accessibility and usability for non-technical users.
In a traditional RDBMS, how is data primarily stored?
- In JSON format
- In a graph structure
- In key-value pairs
- In tables
In a traditional Relational Database Management System (RDBMS), data is primarily stored in tables. These tables consist of rows and columns, where each row represents a record, and each column represents an attribute or field of the data. This tabular structure is designed for structured data storage.
Why might one use a log transformation on a dataset in data transformation techniques?
- To handle outliers and skewed data
- To improve data encryption
- To make data non-linear
- To reduce data volume
Log transformation is often used in data transformation techniques to handle datasets with skewed distributions and outliers. It helps in making the data more symmetric and conforming to assumptions of statistical models. Additionally, it can reveal patterns that may not be evident in the original data.
Which ETL phase is responsible for pushing data into a data warehouse?
- Extraction
- Loading
- Storage
- Transformation
The ETL phase responsible for pushing data into a data warehouse is the "Loading" phase. During this phase, transformed data is loaded into the data warehouse for storage and analysis.
When optimizing a data warehouse, why might you consider partitioning large tables?
- To enhance query performance
- To improve data security
- To reduce data redundancy
- To simplify data loading
Partitioning large tables in a data warehouse can significantly improve query performance. By dividing large tables into smaller, more manageable partitions, the system can access and process only the relevant data, leading to faster query responses. This strategy is particularly useful when dealing with large volumes of historical data.
You are tasked with setting up a Data Warehouse Appliance for a retail chain. The primary goal is to analyze sales data across multiple stores quickly. What feature of the appliance should be prioritized to ensure fast analytical processing?
- Data encryption
- High-capacity storage
- Parallel processing capabilities
- Real-time data loading
To ensure fast analytical processing of sales data across multiple stores, prioritizing parallel processing capabilities is essential. Parallel processing allows the appliance to split and process queries across multiple processors or nodes simultaneously, significantly improving query performance for large datasets.
A media company hosts large video files and has users globally. They want to ensure smooth streaming for all users irrespective of their location. What scalability solution might they consider?
- Clustering
- Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Load Balancing
- Vertical Scaling
To ensure smooth video streaming for global users, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a suitable scalability solution. CDNs distribute content to multiple servers across the globe, reducing latency and improving the user experience by delivering content from a server that is physically closer to the user.