The 10 Most Essential Books for Data Storage Architects

Solutions Review compiles the ten most essential books that data storage architects need to add to their reading lists.

Data storage architects take on a massive responsibility. Knowing how to handle large amounts of data without incident is absolutely critical. Whether hardcover or digital, books are are an excellent source for professionals looking to learn about a specific field of technology, and storage architects are no exception. We’ve listed the top 10 books that data storage architects should add to their reading lists. These books are intended for beginners and experts alike and are written by authors with proficiency and recognition in data storage.

Be sure to also consult our Data Storage Buyer’s Guide for information on the top storage providers. It’s the perfect resource for finding the best storage solution for your organization.

Note: Titles are listed in no particular order.

The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Workshop: Build Your Own Highly Scalable and Robust Data Storage Systems That Can Support a Variety of Cutting-Edge AI Applications

By Chinmay Arankalle, Gareth Dwyer, Kunal Gera, Kevin Liao, and Anand N.S.

“The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Workshop begins taking you through some real-world applications of AI. You’ll explore the layers of a data lake and get to grips with security, scalability, and maintainability. With the help of hands-on exercises, you’ll learn how to define the requirements for AI applications in your organization. This AI book will show you how to select a database for your system and run common queries on databases such as MySQL, MongoDB, and Cassandra. You’ll also design your own AI trading system to get a feel of the pipeline-based architecture. As you learn to implement a deep Q-learning algorithm to play the CartPole game, you’ll gain hands-on experience with PyTorch. Finally, you’ll explore ways to run machine learning models in production as part of an AI application.”

MongoDB: The Definitive Guide: Powerful and Scalable Data Storage

By Shannon Bradshaw, Eoin Brazil, and Kristina Chodorow

“Authors Shannon Bradshaw, Eoin Brazil, and Kristina Chodorow provide guidance for database developers, advanced configuration for system administrators, and use cases for a variety of projects. NoSQL newcomers and experienced MongoDB users will find updates on querying, indexing, aggregation, transactions, replica sets, ops management, sharding and data administration, durability, monitoring, and security.”

Principles of Database Management: The Practical Guide to Storing, Managing, and Analyzing Big and Small Data

By Wilfried Lemahieu, Seppe vanden Broucke, and Bart Baesens

“This comprehensive textbook teaches the fundamentals of database design, modeling, systems, data storage, and the evolving world of data warehousing, governance, and more. Written by experienced educators and experts in big data, analytics, data quality, and data integration, it provides an up-to-date approach to database management. This full-color, illustrated text has a balanced theory-practice focus, covering essential topics, from established database technologies to recent trends, like Big Data, NoSQL, and more. Fundamental concepts are supported by real-world examples, query and code walkthroughs, and figures, making it perfect for introductory courses for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in information systems or computer science.”

Software-Defined Data Infrastructure Essentials: Cloud, Converged, and Virtual Fundamental Server Storage I/O Tradecraft

By Greg Schulz

“Software-Defined Data Infrastructures Essentials provides fundamental coverage of physical, cloud, converged, and virtual server storage I/O networking technologies, trends, tools, techniques, and tradecraft skills. From webscale, software-defined, containers, database, key-value store, cloud, and enterprise to small or medium-sized businesses, the book is filled with techniques, and tips to help develop or refine your server storage I/O hardware, software, and services skills. Whether you are new to data infrastructures or a seasoned pro, you will find this comprehensive reference indispensable for gaining as well as expanding experience with technologies, tools, techniques, and trends.”

The Data Warehouse Toolkit: The Definitive Guide to Dimensional Modeling

By Ralph Kimball

“The first edition of Ralph Kimball’s The Data Warehouse Toolkit introduced the industry to dimensional modeling, and now his books are considered the most authoritative guides in this space. This new third edition is a complete library of updated dimensional modeling techniques, the most comprehensive collection ever. It covers new and enhanced star schema dimensional modeling patterns, adds two new chapters on ETL techniques, includes new and expanded business matrices for 12 case studies, and more.”

Data Center Storage: Cost-Effective Strategies, Implementation, and Management

By Hubbert Smith

“Delivered in accessible language, the book starts with a discussion of the business merits of replacing direct attached, compartmentalized storage with consolidated SAN-attached storage. The author advises on the use of service level applications (SLAs) as a tool to drive business unit collaboration with IT and prioritize those actions that impact productivity and profit from those that are less critical. This business guide to applied technologies disassembles big problems into digestible segments to help you understand, quantify, and fix any problems that arise as you work towards meeting your growing storage needs.”

The Enterprise Big Data Lake: Delivering the Promise of Big Data and Data Science

By Alex Gorelik

“Enterprises are experimenting with using Hadoop to build Big Data Lakes, but many projects are stalling or failing because the approaches that worked at Internet companies have to be adopted for the enterprise. This practical handbook guides managers and IT professionals from the initial research and decision-making process through planning, choosing products, and implementing, maintaining, and governing the modern data lake.”

The History of Data Storage

By Larry Freeman

“This book contains an in-depth look at the products and innovations that created the digital data storage industry we live in today. Suitable as an academic reference, it contains a first-person account of the past, present, and likely future trends in the data storage industry.”

Information Storage and Management: Storing, Managing, and Protecting Digital Information in Classic, Virtualized, and Cloud Environments

By EMC Education Services

“This new edition of the unparalleled bestseller serves as a full training course all in one and as the world’s largest data storage company, EMC is the ideal author for such a critical resource. They cover the components of a storage system and the different storage system models while also offering essential new material that explores the advances in existing technologies and the emergence of the “Cloud” as well as updates and vital information on new technologies.”

Computer Engineering, Data Storage, Networking, and Security

By Nikola Zlatanov

“This book is intended for university students, electrical engineers, educators, scientists, system architects, and almost anyone who wants to find out how computers work and are employed in many industries and applications. One of the main objectives is to promote in a well-selected technical language the engineering efforts in creating computational systems, industrial systems controls, and networking technology between them. Many structures explained in this book are developed with intend to inspire engineers and high-tech managers who are looking for a fundamental reference and information on their projects and new ventures.”

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Tess Hanna

Tess Hanna is an editor and writer at Solutions Review covering Backup and Disaster Recovery, Data Storage, Cloud Computing, and Network Monitoring. Recognized by Onalytica in the 2021 "Who's Who in Data Management," and "Who's Who in Automation" reports. You can contact her at thanna@solutionsreview.com

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