Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA) has released its Data Management for Information as a Service Usage Model. This focused usage model defines the tasks necessary to successfully manage data when using information-as-a-service. It starts with an introduction to Information as a Service (Info-aaS) and then describes data management in four stages. The requirements have been developed to help organizations identify data management opportunities and risks, and as a resource organizations can use to simplify the challenges involved in harnessing and leveraging data from across the entire extended enterprise.

The Data Management for Information-as-a-Service Usage Model examines data management from a variety of enterprise channels including networks, the cloud, social media and fixed and mobile devices. The paper presents Info-aaS in four manageable stages: data sourcing and collection, data standardization, data lifecycle management, and data information and insight, and discusses how challenges and opportunities outlined in each stage can be addressed using processes, people and tools and technologies. The usage model shows how enterprises can ultimately convert data into information that can be used to provide analytics, predictions, and business intelligence and provides cloud solution and service providers with valuable insight that can be used to develop products that meet ODCA Info-aaS requirements.

"The Data Management for Information as a Service Usage Model has been developed based on the deep industry experience ODCA members have in managing data across the extended enterprise," said Correy Voo, CTO at UBS and president of the ODCA Board of Directors. "The usage model outlines how Information as-a-Service helps organizations unlock the real world business opportunities associated with big data and data analytics and illustrates how enterprises can establish a foundation for building a secure and privacy-respecting Information as a Service ecosystem for managing data across networks, applications, devices and locations."

The Data Management for Information as a Service Usage Model has been developed within ODCA's Manageability and Services Workgroup, with input from National Australia Bank (NAB), Taiwan Stock Exchange, The Walt Disney Company and Intel's Information Technology. The paper references concepts outlined in the ODCA Information as a Service Usage Model, and is part of ODCA's extensive library of output that includes over 25 usage models and requirements focused on enterprise cloud computing and big data. ODCA usage models have been instrumental in the development of new products from cloud vendors and solution providers and when specified using PEAT, ODCA's online Proposal Engine Assistant Tool, have proven to dramatically streamline enterprise cloud RFP (Request for Proposal) processes.

The Data Management for Information as a Service Usage Model is available for free download on the ODCA website.