Introduction to Data Models

A data model refers to the way data is imported, stored, and accessed to support data analysis, including creating reports, dashboards, and infusing analytics into your applications.

Sisense data models can be based on the following data sources:

• ElastiCube
• Live
• Build-to-Destination (B2D)

A hybrid approach can also be used to create dashboards that combine data from both ElastiCube and Live data models.

This video gives an overview of Live data models, ElastiCube data models, and the hybrid approach:

ElastiCube Model

ElastiCubes are Sisense's proprietary, high-performance analytical databases. They're specifically designed to withstand the extensive querying typically required for business intelligence applications. Import data from a variety of data sources into a Sisense ElastiCube, which becomes the database that supports your dashboard. Update your ElastiCube as the data in your sources change. Sisense also supports auto-updating, scaling, and source database modification without the need to re-build the entire data set.

With ElastiCubes, you connect to your data sources, design your schema, and import your data (build). Sisense imports all of the relevant data from your sources into the ElastiCube.

To learn more about ElastiCubes and how to model them, see:

• Introducing ElastiCubes
• Data Source Connectors
• Data Functions for Custom Tables and Fields
• Building ElastiCubes
• Defining ElastiCube Build Settings
• ElastiCube for Advanced Business Scenarios

Live Model

Unlike ElastiCube models, Live models run queries directly against the data source. This provides you with near real-time data updates in your dashboard, meaning that in a lot of cases the queries are only as fast as the data source, (unless caching is being used).

To create dashboards built on live connections to a data source, you create Live models. These data models include connection and credential details to the data sources. After you have created your live model, you publish it. Publishing the live model adds it to your list of data models from which you can select when working with dashboards.

To learn more about Live models, and how to create and publish them, see Introducing Live Models.

Hybrid Model

The Hybrid model combines the best of ElastiCube and Live models. Hybrid models feed Live data into your dashboards while combining dashboards and analysis from historical data in the system. This means you can link your ElastiCubes to your Live data and work with them together without reducing performance.

When you create a hybrid model, you add both ElastiCube and Live models to a single dashboard. For instructions on how to do this, see Creating a Dashboard with Multiple Sources.

Build-to-Destination (B2D)

The Build to Destination (B2D) option should be considered for existing ElastiCube users with very large amounts of data. These ElastiCube users can take advantage of the benefits of using a cloud data warehouse (CDWH) to store and query their data.

See Build to Destination Benefits and Considerations for more information about B2D.