The Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a public research organization, is the main producer of official statistics in the service of citizens and policy-makers. It operates independently and regularly interacts with the academic and scientific communities. Since 1989, Istat has been directing, coordinating, and providing technical assistance and training within the National Statistical System (Sistan).
Modernizing the Data Architecture
ISTAT launched a comprehensive modernization process in 2016 aimed at redefining the data infrastructure to enrich the supply and quality of the information produced, while also improving the effectiveness and efficiency of organizational activities.
Istat uses roughly 200 administrative data sources for its research, and then adds periodic census data. Prior to 2016, censuses were based on universal suffrage and took place every 10 years, but now they are based on sampling approaches and take place every year. With that change in timeframe and approach, Istat has had to reorganize its approach to data management.
Starting with the data integration logic of administrative and survey data sources, Istat implemented a new data infrastructure across the entire organization. The new infrastructure, built on the Denodo Platform, redefined the process of data acquisition, data processing, and data governance. The new infrastructure leverages data virtualization to integrate data in real time, without replicating data. By making it easier and faster to access, manage, manipulate, and deliver data, the Denodo Platform enabled ISTAT to seamlessly implement the register-based analytics (RAF) framework.