DBTA E-EDITION
August 2026
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Trends and Applications
Data mesh and data fabric caught the attention of data leaders in the early 2020s as a compelling way to retain and deliver information across highly disparate enterprises. Then AI came into the picture in a big way, overshadowing the time and attention devoted to mesh and fabric. Lately, because data-hungry AI systems demand a seamless flow of information, there has been a resurgence of interest in the flexibility that mesh and fabric provide. To meet this need, mesh and fabric are being layered together, rather than being categorized as differing approaches to data decentralization.
Virtualization environments are in a state of flux. With many companies moving away from VMware, the longtime foundational vendor for corporate virtualization initiatives, new approaches, such as cloud services and multi-hypervisors, are in play. The move to next-generation virtualization approaches is gaining urgency, as AI becomes a crucial part of corporate strategies.
Many organizations assumed their infrastructure strategy was settled. It had been implemented, optimized, and built into long-term plans. Recent changes in technology and vendor consolidation are forcing a second look. Cloud outages and licensing changes have exposed how much dependency exists on a small number of platforms. As a result, organizations are re-evaluating whether those decisions still hold up under current conditions.
Columns - DBA Corner
Database professionals have long understood that applications live or die by the quality of the data used to test them. Yet test data management (TDM) has historically been handled as a secondary concern. It is usually approached manually, in an inconsistent way, and frequently rushed. In an era of agile development, DevOps, and continuous delivery, this approach is no longer viable. At the center of modern TDM is a capability that DBAs can no longer afford to ignore: flexible provisioning.
Columns - SQL Server Drill Down
Autonomous, everyday workflows; streamlined inter-team collaboration; and time given back to humans for business-focused initiatives are just a few agentic AI benefits becoming clearer each day. Unfortunately, these advantages have tempted some to give agentic AI more "agency" than it deserves, leading to the ultimate replacement of human employees.
Columns - Emerging Technologies
I am on assignment at Gent & Associates' executive search department looking at the hidden role of data parsing in modern recruiting. For decades, the resume was a simple storytelling document—a 1-page narrative of who you were, what you had done, and why you were worth hiring. Today, that world is gone.
MV Community
BlueFinity is releasing the latest version of the Evoke low-code platform, introducing Code Hook technology which takes the customization of apps to a whole new level. According to BlueFinity, Code-Hooks provide a simple way to integrate code and routines from existing applications, custom-built functionality, and third-party libraries directly into an app, making them seamless.
Entrinsik, a leader in data analytics and business intelligence solutions, announced it was selected by Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, as a winner in the 2026 Experience Idol award program. Experience Idol is an annual program celebrating institutions and partner organizations using the Ellucian Platform and SaaS-native capabilities to deliver innovative, data-driven experiences that improve outcomes for students, faculty, and staff across the higher education lifecycle.
MultiValue software vendors continue to address emerging challenges and opportunities that are affecting the IT landscape by frequently adding new features and integrations with other platforms and services, helping their loyal and committed customers to stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends. To help organizations progress along their data-driven journeys, each year, DBTA presents the Readers' Choice Awards, which provide the opportunity to recognize companies whose products have been selected by the experts—our readers! The top three vote getters in the MultiValue category this year are: Rocket Software MultiValue Application Platform, Pick Cloud, and Intersystems Iris.