Data. Big data is everywhere in your business and odds are good that you have petabytes of it. From your customer's purchasing information to financing data, you need to make sure that you are properly managing your data. This means working on recording, organizing, and analyzing it. As the old expression goes, "Junk in, junk out." If you don't properly manage your data, you'll have nothing but junk.

This means that you have to store your data and datasets. One way to do this is Amazon Redshift, an Amazon Web Service (AWS) product. You can access these services by setting up an AWS account. This will enable you to use AWS redshift and garner the digital intelligence that can come with it. 

Redshift is a data warehouse that is designed to help you make critical insights into your data. It is managed by AWS services and runs as part of Amazon's cloud computing services. It manages a variety of functions and permissions, including:

  • Analyzing multiple data lakes and warehouses.

  • Managing multiple workloads in the Amazon Redshift Cluster

  • Integrate any data warehouse service that you already use

  • Integrating third-party data

  • Taking advantage of machine learning and algorithms to help you better analyze your data

  • Integrate with an in-house API

All of this results in an analysis tool that allows you to create "fast, easy, and secure" on-demand analytics. In any line of work, the ability to create customized, real-time data can be a huge timesaver and extremely insightful. There is no question that Amazon Redshift data can provide you with these critical insights. However, there is also no question that Amazon Redshift can be complicated and confusing. As such, you may need a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift. This article will detail how you can best take advantage of Amazon Redshift and use it for your business. 

At Integrate.Io, we can help you better utilize your data. We ensure that you can take advantage of a variety of third-party platforms in your business. One such example is Amazon Redshift. As such, here's a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift. 

Amazon Redshift Is a Relational SQL Database

Before you read too deep into a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift, you should understand what Amazon Redshift is and the data types and data processing it can use. 

Amazon Redshift is a columnar, SQL Database. An SQL Database is a specific type of relational database. It stands for Structured Query Language and is a standard within the database world. It allows a variety of database functions. This includes search, insertion of records, retrieval of records and so much more.

The challenge for large companies is that SQL is not ideal. SQL is a great programming language, but it is not always the most accessible. As such, it can present real challenges for non-technically oriented users. These people may struggle to access information and manipulate data. It looks extremely complex, even though many of its functions are relatively basic. As such, it requires additional databases and manipulations to be more impactful for users.

If you have large amounts of data that are split across many databases, you may have issues with speed and accessibility. You may also struggle to be able to get useful information across multiple databases to relate to each other. As a Relational SQL database, you can customize and scale it according to your needs, managing your data pipeline and any inbound data. Data can stay in your servers or the AWS cloud. 

You can also pay as you use different features, meaning that you will pay based on what you use and what is best for your optimization. Redshift has customized and ready-made scripts. 

You likely have a wide array of data that needs to be better sorted and accessed to ensure you get the most out of it. Want more information after reading a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift? Check out our various products at Integrate.io.

Use of Countless Databases Across Many Servers

A business of any size may have countless data sources to incorporate. This includes Excel spreadsheets, CRM data, access databases, and more. You may use multiple systems, including Windows, Mac, or Linux. Creating useful information from countless sources can be impossible if you don't have the right tools. 

That's where Amazon Redshift comes in. Amazon has one of the largest database and server farms in the world, enabling you to take advantage of parallel processing. By taking advantage of the power of Amazon's cloud, you are using their monstrous processing power. This can speed up your ability to access your data. It can also ensure that you are getting real-time analytics. This lets you make split-second decisions that are data-driven and data-informed.

Furthermore, Amazon will have access to more processing power than you ever could on your own. Querying data can be done in no time at all., dramatically improving query performance. This means that you can take all of your data and place it into Redshift. As a result, you will be able to customize Redshift's interfaces to build relationships between your data. As Amazon noted, you can use these relationship-building capacities for a variety of purposes. This allows for a variety of use cases for business intelligence. This includes cost-cutting, efficiency-building, productivity enhancements and so much more. 

Entering Records

Entering records can be a matter of copying and pasting information into Redshift's extensive database. However, you have the option of selecting the type of SQL client tool or query editor that you use to both enter the records and access the reports. Options include SQL Workbench, psql or more. Which one you use is ultimately up to you. However, this highlights another benefit of Amazon Redshift and as you read a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift, keep this fundamental point in mind. Amazon Redshift is highly customizable to your needs. 

Creating Reports and Analytics

After reading a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift, you are set to begin to import your data. You will also be able to create reports and live analytics. Once you set up your account, click on "new report" within the SQL language of your choosing. This can be of any variety, including scheduled reports or live analytics. 

Keep in mind that Amazon doesn't leave you in the dark. It offers extensive tools and documents that can help you get a better idea about what sort of uses you may be able to find. Reading a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift is unquestionably helpful. There are additional resources of which you can take advantage. These documents can also help you find more specific ways that you can read reports and gain insight.

The Importance of Inventorying Your Data

Amazon Redshift can only be useful if you are properly loading data. This means you will have to speak with your team and make sure that all data is loaded into the system. This includes everything on files, such as contacts, sales data, processes, and more. It is only by doing this inventory that you can properly prepare for the use of Amazon Redshift. You need a comprehensive view of your data to get the most out of your system. Furthermore, Amazon Redshift has multiple pricing models. You can only determine which model suits you best by running the right inventory on your data. 

At the end of the day, your data is only useful if it is organized, sorted, and stored properly. There are a variety of ways that you can access your data and make sure that you are getting the most out of it. This is a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift and is meant as a tutorial. The truth is that there is so much more out there that can help make sure you are maximizing your data.

If you liked reading a beginner's guide to Amazon Redshift, there's more that we can offer you at Integrate.io. We offer an array of products on ETL services, data warehousing analytics, and more. If you want more information, reach out to us today to schedule a demo.