Snowflake Unveils Openflow: A New Managed Data Integration Framework
Snowflake has introduced Openflow, a new managed data integration framework built on Apache NiFi. This tool enables developers to create event-driven, data-centric pipelines within the Snowflake ecosystem, simplifying data integration workflows.
Openflow connects any data source to any destination, supporting both structured and unstructured data. It offers a rich set of processors and connectors, totaling over 30 prebuilt connectors for common enterprise systems. This includes SaaS applications, databases, file systems, and streaming platforms, facilitating rapid integration.
Openflow allows teams to deliver data to operational systems, trigger actions based on data changes, and streamline last-mile delivery. It maintains control, observability, and governance through Snowflake's unified control plane in Snowsight. For more specialized needs, developers can extend Openflow by building custom processors using Apache NiFi components.
In the financial industry, Openflow enables real-time automatic detection and response to suspicious transactions. It streams transaction data, applies risk-scoring models, marks accounts, and alerts risk verification teams, enhancing fraud prevention and accelerating response times without external orchestration tools.
In BYOC or on-prem deployments, customers manage their own data planes, while Snowflake provides a centralized control plane. When using Snowpark Container Services (SPCS), Snowflake manages both the control and data planes for a more streamlined, fully managed experience.
Openflow shifts the approach to data integration by enabling integration workflows to be designed and executed via the Snowflake ecosystem itself. It abstracts infrastructure complexity, providing a centralized control plane for monitoring and governance via Snowsight. With its extensive connector library and customization options, Openflow offers a powerful tool for data integration within the Snowflake ecosystem.
