# Data Sources

> Connecting to your data is the first step in analyzing your business information.

*Source: https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/data-sources.htm*

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Last updated: June 10, 2026

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Connecting to your data is the first step in analyzing your business information.

See [Data Source Connectors](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/introduction-to-data-sources.md) for lists of the Live and ElastiCube data source connectors.

## Data Source Connection Types

There are different ways to connect data models to your data sources. The connection type you choose depends on your use case and the data source:

- **Live** - Live connections connect directly to the data source. Use a Live connection if your data changes frequently and your dashboards must reflect this. See the **Live Data Source Connectors** section of [Data Source Connectors](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/introduction-to-data-sources.md) for a list of the available connectors.  
  See [Introducing Live Models](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/live-connect.md) for more information about using Live models.
- **ElastiCube** - Import your data into the ElastiCube to take advantage of Sisense's high performance database. See the **ElastiCube Data Source Connectors** section of [Data Source Connectors](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/introduction-to-data-sources.md) for a list of the available connectors.  
  See [Introducing ElastiCubes](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/elasticubes.md) for more information about using ElastiCubes.
- **Build to Destination (B2D)** - ElastiCube users can take advantage of the benefits of using a cloud data warehouse to store and query their data. This is an effective approach for existing ElastiCube users with very large amounts of data. See [Build to Destination Benefits and Considerations](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/introducing-build-to-destination-b2d.md) for more information.

**Note:**

See [Choosing the Right Data Model](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/choosing-the-right-data-model.md) for detailed information about how to choose the best type of data model for your business requirements.

### Hybrid Approach

A single dashboard can support both ElastiCube and Live data models. This is sometimes referred to as a "hybrid model". For instructions on how to do this, see [Creating a Dashboard with Multiple Sources](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/creating-a-dashboard-with-multiple-sources.md).