Combining Data Mesh and Data Fabric Capabilities

Data Fabric and Data Mesh are two prominent concepts in data management that, while often viewed as competing, can complement each other by leveraging their shared principles of eliminating data silos and democratizing access to decentralized data sources. Data Fabric utilizes artificial intelligence to integrate data sets using active metadata and machine learning, creating virtual domains for data management. In contrast, Data Mesh emphasizes decentralized management, where domain teams autonomously govern their domains and build data products closest to the business needs. Governance differs as Data Fabric employs a top-down approach with centrally managed metadata, whereas Data Mesh adopts a bottom-up approach with distributed governance aligned with the risk profile of each domain. Both approaches aim to enhance data accessibility, efficiency, and consumer adoption, and organizations are encouraged to learn from both to improve their data strategies. Modak and Starburst are two companies offering solutions and technologies to optimize data management practices, supporting the implementation of Data Fabric and Data Mesh by providing tools for automation, data integration, and efficient querying across distributed data environments.