(US & Canada) VIDEO | Data Observability Allows Proactive Processes — CDO Today CEO

Salema Rice, CEO of CDO Today, speaks with Eleanor Treharne Jones, CEO of Kensu, in a video interview about the importance of data observability and its key components.

At the onset, Rice claims that data observability today can achieve objectives previously requiring multiple days or even weeks in just a few seconds. Furthermore, she views it as having an inside-out look at data. Rice argues that data observability can quickly traverse metrics, logs, and data catalogs to narrate a story in near real-time.

Moving forward, she remembers the days when reports were sent to regulators, who reviewed any errors encountered. Rice recalls how companies failed a ‘data exam’ due to a lack of such measures. She remembers trying to monitor log files, run against metrics, ETL, and transition from ETL/ELT processes manually, but notes that today the complexity is much greater since data can be ingested from anywhere in any format.

Therefore, Rice believes that the biggest value of data observability is that it allows businesses to be proactive and not reactive in their processes.

Furthermore, she emphasizes the need to study the data catalog and underscores the importance of data rather than waiting until it is too late. Rice advises scrutinizing the master data and any near-real-time or real-time logs, as companies are increasingly capturing more data and thus facing challenges with big data. She recalls thinking of big data as a massive sandbox.

In conclusion, Rice highlights the three main components of data observability from the POV of a Chief Data Officer. These include:

1. Ensuring that the data is cataloged correctly

2. Capturing it proactively

3. Mastering the data while it comes in and before it goes into the ERP systems

According to her, this way, companies can achieve better data quality results faster than before.

CDO Magazine appreciates Salema Rice for sharing her insights with our global community.