The Data layer represents a full range of options to achieve and maintain high levels of data availability and business continuity, including advanced restore capabilities across the organization. It incorporates enterprise-wide standards and practices for development and data maintenance. It also includes management of authorized access, regulatory compliance, and overall privacy. In the platform context, Data can enable improved manageability, availability, programmability, mobility, scalability, and performance. The use of automated diagnostics, tuning, and configuration to manage the infrastructure can reduce operational costs. Data accelerates time-to-value by delivering results in a timely, iterative, and consistent manner. The layer includes data replication for distributed and mobile data processing applications, with high systems availability, scalable concurrency, and integration with heterogeneous systems.

An example of a data layer implementation is a highly available database like the Oracle RAC architecture. A shared nothing cluster of database servers, this architecture balances the workload across all running instances. It can provide data layer capabilities for a wide range of applications.

Architectural pre-requisites: Infrastructure, Management, Security, IT Process

Architectural recommendations: SOA and BPM, Cloud

Solution patterns it enables: User Experience, Integrated Communications, ECM and Collaboration, Business Intelligence, Web and Social Computing, SOA and BPM, Security, Infrastructure and Management.