Introduction to MSSQL Server Analysis Services: Mastering Enterprise BI: Create Aging "Buckets" in a Cube: "As I have stated repeatedly, however, I have become convinced that the components of the Microsoft integrated BI solution (including MSSQL Server, Analysis Services, and Reporting Services) will commoditize business intelligence. It is therefore easy to see why a natural area of specialization for me has become the conversion of Cognos (and other) enterprise BI to the Microsoft solution. In addition to converting formerly dominant enterprise Business Intelligence systems, such as Cognos, Business Objects, Crystal, and others, to the Reporting Services architecture, I regularly conduct strategy sessions about these conversions with large organizations in a diverse range of industries � the interest grows daily as awareness of the solution becomes pervasive. Indeed, the five-to-six-plus figures that many can shave from their annual IT budgets represent a compelling sweetener to examining this incredible toolset."
Much more in the article, which discusses techniques for handling "aged" data, which is data that is outside the business requirements for analysis, but may still be useful. An example of this is BASEL II regulations in the US Banking sector, which specify certain metrics that are determined from the the past 2 or 3 years of transaction data. If BASEL is the catalyst for a Data Mart/Warehouse, then for architecture reasons it will be beneficial to eliminate older records as they lose relevance (to save processing time, etc). But obviously, that data can be used for other purposes (marketing, sales, etc) and the older data would also be useful. This article talks about how to get the best of both worlds.
It's my opinion that as the price of storage has plummeted (and will continue to drop exponentially) it is silly to purge or delete any business data permanently. Move it to another system, sure. The value will increase with the length of time those records are kept.
