Mastering data – bridging the gap between IT and business

In today’s digital age, data has emerged as a key differentiator for businesses. It is the cornerstone of strategic decision-making and operational efficiency, shaping the way organizations grow and compete. This chapter highlights the imperative role of data in businesses, the relevance of understanding and mastering it for DevOps, SREs, IT professionals, and business executives, and the ways in which a data-driven approach can create tangible business value.

Data, in its essence, is raw information that becomes meaningful and actionable when processed and analyzed. In an organization, data can originate from various sources, such as transactional systems, IoT devices, or customer interactions, and it is typically structured, semi-structured, or unstructured. Understanding the various data types, their sources, and how they flow across an organization’s ecosystem is a fundamental step in exploiting the...