Enterprises are faced with a number of challenges as they struggle to compete in an always-on, digitally connected world. The range of types and shapes of data to be collected and analyzed is constantly growing. The process of digital transformation is applying pressure on older systems to evolve and newer systems to ensure that the data is consistent, current, comprehensible, trustworthy, and secure. On top of this, enterprises must formulate policies with respect to the cloud: what data will move, what data will stay, what applications will be enhanced, what applications will be replaced, and what applications must be added?

Behind all of this must be data management technology that is flexible enough to support almost any data format and manageable enough to enable enterprises to define and analyze that data, with features that ensure scalability, reliability, and data security. At the same time, such a system must support agile development by allowing for independent data development by project groups with the autonomy to build data systems as they see fit and then to reconcile and integrate the data that is needed for the broader enterprise. What are the required elements of such a system? This IDC Vendor Spotlight examines these matters and looks at DataStax Enterprise (DSE) 6 from DataStax as a technology to consider in confronting this world of challenges and choices.