DATA REDUNDANCY

Data Redundancy
• Data redundancy occurs when the same piece of data is stored in two or
more separate places and is a common occurrence in many businesses. As more
companies are moving away from siloed data to using a central repository to store
information, they are finding that their database is filled with inconsistent
duplicates of the same entry. Although it can be challenging to reconcile —or even
benefit from — duplicate data entries, understanding how to reduce and track data
redundancy efficiently can help mitigate long-term inconsistency issues for your
business.
How does data redundancy occur?
• Sometimes data redundancy happens by accident while other times it is
intentional. Accidental data redundancy can be the result of a complex process or
inefficient coding while intentional data redundancy can be used to protect data
and ensure consistency — simply by leveraging the multiple occurrences of data
for disaster recovery and quality checks.
• If data redundancy is intentional, it’s important to have a central field or
space for the data. This allows you to easily update all records of redundant data
when necessary. When data redundancy isn’t purposeful, it can lead to a variety of
issues.
Understanding database versus file-based data redundancy
• Data redundancy can be found in a database, which is an organized
collection of structured data that’s stored by a computer system or the cloud. A
retailer may have a database to track the products they stock. If the same product
gets entered twice by mistake, data redundancy takes place.
• The same retailer may keep customer files in a file storage system. If a
customer purchases from the company more than once, their name may be entered
multiple times. Duplicate entries of the customer name is considered redundant
data.
• Regardless of whether data redundancy occurs in a database or in a file
storage system, it can be problematic. Fortunately, data replication can help
prevent data redundancy by storing the same data in multiple locations. With data
replication, companies can ensure consistency and receive the information they
need at any time.
Top 4 advantages of data redundancy
Although data redundancy sounds like a negative event, there are many
organizations that can benefit from this process when it’s intentionally built into
daily operations.
• Alternative data backup method
• Backing up data involves creating compressed and encrypted versions of
data and storing it in a computer system or the cloud. Data redundancy offers an
extra layer of protection and reinforces the backup by replicating data to an
additional system. It’s often an advantage when companies incorporate data
redundancy into their disaster recovery plans.
• Better data security
• Data security relates to protecting data, in a database or a file storage system,
from unwanted activities such as cyber-attacks or data breaches. Having the same
data stored in two or more separate places can protect an organization in the event
of a cyber-attack or breach — an event which can result in lost time and money, as
well as a damaged reputation.
Top 4 advantages of data redundancy
• Faster data access and updates
• When data is redundant, employees enjoy fast access and quick updates
because the necessary information is available on multiple systems. This is
particularly important for customer service-based organizations whose customers
expect promptness and efficiency.
• Improved data reliability
• Data that is reliable is complete and accurate. Organizations can use data
redundancy to double check data and confirm it’s correct and completed in full —
a necessity when interacting with customers, vendors, internal staff, and others.
Watch out for data redundancy disadvantages
Although there are noteworthy advantages of intentional data redundancy,
there are also several significant drawbacks when organizations are unaware of its
presence.
• Possible Data Inconsistency
• Data redundancy occurs when the same piece of data exists in multiple
places, whereas data inconsistency is when the same data exists in different
formats in multiple tables. Unfortunately, data redundancy can cause data
inconsistency, which can provide a company with unreliable and/or meaningless
information.
• Increase In Data Corruption
• Data corruption is when data becomes damaged as a result of errors in
writing, reading, storage, or processing. When the same data fields are repeated in
a database or file storage system, data corruption arises. If a file gets corrupted, for
example, and an employee tries to open it, they may get an error message and not
be able to complete their task.
Watch out for data redundancy disadvantages
• Increase In Database Size
• Data redundancy may increase the size and complexity of a database —
making it more of a challenge to maintain. A larger database can also lead to longer
load times and a great deal of headaches and frustrations for employees as they’ll
need to spend more time completing daily tasks.
• Increase In Cost
• When more data is created due to data redundancy, storage costs suddenly
increase. This can be a serious issue for organizations who are trying to keep costs
low in order to increase profits and meet their goals. In addition, implementing a
database system can become more expensive.
How to reduce data redundancy?
Fortunately, it is possible to reduce unintentional cases of data redundancy
that often lead to operational and financial problems.
• Master Data
• Master data is a single source of common business data that is shared across
several applications or systems. Although master data does not reduce the
occurrences of data redundancy, it allows companies to work around and accept a
certain level of data redundancy. This is because the use of master data ensures that
in the event a data piece changes, an organization only needs to update one piece of
data. In this case, redundant data is consistently updated and provides the same
information.
• Database Normalization
• Database normalization is the process of efficiently organizing data in a
database so that redundant data is eliminated. This process can ensure that all of a
company’s data looks and reads similarly across all records. By implementing data
normalization, an organization standardizes data fields such as customer names,
addresses, and phone numbers.
How to reduce data redundancy?
• Normalizing data involves organizing the columns and tables of a database
to make sure their dependencies are enforced correctly. The “normal form” refers
to the set of rules or normalizing data, and a database is known as “normalized” if
it’s free of delete, update, and insert anomalies.
• When it comes to normalizing data, each company has their own unique set
of criteria. Therefore, what one organization believes to be “normal,” may not be
“normal” for another organization. For instance, one company may want to
normalize the state or province field with two digits, while another may prefer the
full name. Regardless, database normalization can be the key to reducing data
redundancy across any company.

Efficient data redundancy use cases

• Efficient data redundancy is possible. Many organizations like home
improvement companies, real estate agencies, and companies focused on customer
interactions have customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
• When a CRM system is integrated with another business software like an
accounting software that combines customer and financial data, redundant manual
data is eliminated, leading to more insightful reports and improved customer
service.
• Database management systems are also used in a variety of organizations.
They receive direction from a database administrator (DBA) and allow the system
to load, retrieve, or change existing data from the systems. Database management
systems adhere to the rules of normalization, which reduces data redundancy.
• Hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare entities use database
management systems to generate reports that provide useful information for
physicians and other employees. When data redundancy is efficient and does not
lead to data inconsistency, these systems can alert healthcare providers of rises in
denial claim rates, how successful a certain medication is, and other important
pieces of information.
Reducing data redundancy with data management
• Although data redundancy in a database or file storage system can benefit an
organization when it’s intentional, this process can also be detrimental when done
by accident. Companies can alleviate the headache that often comes with data
redundancy with Talend Data Fabric.