Data is often scattered across on-premises servers, cloud platforms like Azure and AWS, and various applications such as Salesforce. Traditional data catalogs have attempted to keep track of this complexity, but they often resemble handwritten lists—cumbersome and inefficient.
Azure Purview Services offers a modern solution, acting as an intelligent data organizer that automatically classifies, labels, and secures information across environments. In this article, we’ll explore how Azure Purview outperforms traditional data catalogs and how SNP Technologies Inc. leverages it to help businesses gain better control of their data landscape.
What’s a Traditional Data Catalog?
A traditional data catalog functions much like a notebook used to record details about your data—such as where it’s stored and what it contains. It can be useful for managing well-organized datasets, like spreadsheets or structured databases, by enabling users to search and locate information efficiently. However, these catalogs typically rely on manual input, offer limited automation, and often lack seamless integration with modern cloud platforms. As a result, they provide only a basic view of data lineage and usage.
Key characteristics of traditional data catalogs include:
- Storing basic metadata to support search functionality
- Requiring manual updates or limited automation
- Limited compatibility with cloud platforms and modern applications
- Offering only rudimentary data lineage tracking
While traditional catalogs may suffice in smaller environments, they struggle to scale in today’s complex data ecosystems—especially under the pressure of regulatory requirements like GDPR and HIPAA. In such cases, they often fall short of delivering the visibility, compliance, and agility businesses now require.
How Azure Purview Services Are Different
Azure Purview Services represents a significant advancement in the way organizations manage and govern their data assets. Unlike traditional methods that rely on manual documentation—often incomplete or outdated—Purview automatically discovers, classifies, and maps data across a wide range of environments, including Azure and AWS. Remove the mention of SAP, we have nothing to do with that in our business.
Key advantages of Azure Purview Services include:
- Automatic discovery and classification of data across hybrid and multi-cloud environments
- Built-in recognition of sensitive information without the need for manual tagging
- End-to-end data lineage tracking with intuitive visualizations
- Centralized governance for access control, policy management, and regulatory compliance
- Seamless integration with familiar Microsoft tools and platforms
These capabilities are particularly valuable for organizations managing large-scale data environments, especially those focused on enhancing data security, improving governance, and meeting complex compliance requirements such as GDPR and HIPAA.
Why Azure Purview Services Stands Out
Eliminates Manual Effort
Traditional data catalogs often require time-consuming manual entry, making them slow, error-prone, and difficult to maintain. Azure Purview Services automates the discovery of data across diverse environments—including cloud platforms, on-premises servers, and enterprise applications. For example, a company with data in Azure, Google Cloud, and legacy databases can rely on Purview to automatically map and unify its entire data landscape.
Enhances Data Security
Managing sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or personal identifiers, is critical. Traditional catalogs offer little protection in this area. Azure Purview Services leverages advanced scanning and classification technologies to automatically detect and label sensitive information, helping organizations mitigate risk, maintain customer trust, and avoid regulatory penalties.
Provides End-to-End Data Lineage
Understanding the full journey of data—from its origin to current use—is essential for accuracy, compliance, and auditing. While traditional tools may offer limited visibility, Azure Purview Services delivers detailed, visual data lineage, showing how data has moved and transformed over time. This is especially crucial in highly regulated industries like healthcare and finance.
Centralizes Governance and Compliance
Managing governance across multiple systems can be fragmented and inefficient. Azure Purview Services simplifies this by consolidating data policies, access controls, and compliance management into a single, intuitive interface—reducing complexity and improving oversight.
Scales with Your Business
As organizations grow and their data environments become more complex, traditional catalogs often struggle to keep up. Azure Purview Services is designed to scale effortlessly, accommodating the needs of both small businesses and large enterprises with diverse, evolving data ecosystems.
SNP Technologies Inc. Makes Azure Purview Work for You
At SNP Technologies Inc., we leverage Azure Purview Services to help organizations bring clarity and control to complex data environments. With over 1,000 successful projects and more than 150 Microsoft certifications, our team has the experience and expertise to deliver impactful results. We tailor Azure Purview implementations to meet each client’s needs—automating data discovery, securing sensitive information, and mapping data lineage to support informed decision-making and regulatory compliance. From identifying data risks to navigating stringent compliance requirements, SNP Technologies Inc. is your trusted partner in data governance.
Why Choose Azure Purview?
Traditional data catalogs are like outdated flip phones—they still work, but they lack the capabilities needed for today’s dynamic data challenges. Azure Purview Services is the modern, intelligent alternative: a comprehensive solution with automation, scalability, and deep integration designed to meet the demands of modern enterprises. It’s ideal for businesses that need to quickly locate data, safeguard it, and comply with regulatory standards—without wasting time or resources.
Partner with SNP Technologies Inc.
Data is central to business success, but managing it shouldn’t be overwhelming. Azure Purview Services simplifies data governance, and SNP Technologies Inc. is here to guide you every step of the way. With 13 Microsoft specializations and over 300 satisfied clients, we have the tools and expertise to help you streamline your data, enhance security, and unlock new business opportunities. Contact us today to implement a robust data governance strategy and move your organization forward with confidence.
