What does Data Federation mean in SAP HANA?

Data Federation in SAP HANA refers to the capability of accessing and querying data from various sources without the need to physically move that data into the HANA database. This feature allows users to leverage different data storage systems while maintaining the integrity and location of the original data. By using Data Federation, organizations can perform real-time queries and analyses on diverse data sets, which streamlines reporting and decision-making processes without the overhead of data replication or movement.

This approach is particularly advantageous because it enables businesses to harness and analyze data stored in different environments—such as other databases, data lakes, or cloud services—without the delays that can be caused by data transfers. As a result, users can obtain a more comprehensive view of their data landscape and make informed decisions quickly.

The other options do not accurately represent Data Federation. Creating new schemas pertains to database structure and organization. Encryption relates to data protection and security measures. Combining data into one table suggests a merging process rather than federated querying, which emphasizes access and interaction with distributed data sources while leaving the data in place.