Data Cleansing 101: SQL Server Essentials from Pluralsight

Messy data and inconsistencies often lead to inaccurate conclusions and missed opportunities. This course will teach you to identify and resolve data inconsistencies, master essential cleansing techniques, and implement optimal maintenance practices.

Often, you will come across messy data like duplicate entries, missing values, and inconsistent formats which will lead to inaccurate entries and unreliable analysis.

In this course, Data Cleansing 101: SQL Server Essentials, you’ll gain the ability to cleanse your data in SQL Server database, ensuring clean, reliable data for accurate analysis and confident decision-making.

First, you’ll sharpen your skills to identify and diagnose common data quality issues like duplicates, missing values, and formatting inconsistencies.

Next, you’ll explore powerful SQL queries and functions to remove duplicates, handle missing values, standardize formats, and transform your data into a pristine powerhouse.

Finally, you’ll discover essential best practices for data maintenance, preventing future data quality issues, and maintaining ongoing data integrity.

When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge you need to conquer data quality in SQL Server and unlock the full potential of your data for accurate analysis and confident decisions.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Understanding Data Quality Essentials

Beyond Cleaning: Building a Reliable Data Future

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Helps learners build a strong foundation in data cleansing with essential SQL techniques

Applies specifically to SQL Server databases, catering to a dedicated audience

Taught by Amruta Mahajan, an expert in data cleansing, ensuring high-quality instruction

Designed for learners with a basic understanding of SQL, making it accessible to a wider audience

Focuses on practical skills and techniques, preparing learners for real-world data manipulation tasks

Covers essential topics such as duplicate removal, missing value handling, and data transformation

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Cleansing 101: SQL Server Essentials with these activities:

Compile a list of resources on data cleansing best practices

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Provides a valuable reference for future data cleansing projects.

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Gather articles, tutorials, and documentation on data cleansing best practices
Organize the resources into a central location (e.g., a shared document or website)

Review SQL syntax and concepts

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Refreshes your knowledge of SQL syntax and concepts, providing a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on SQL Syntax

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Review online tutorials on SQL syntax
Practice writing basic SQL queries

Review "Data Cleaning: A Practical Guide" by Thomas Redman

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Provides a comprehensive overview of data cleaning concepts and techniques.

View Data Quality For The Information Age (Artech... on Amazon

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Read chapters on data quality assessment, data transformation, and data validation
Review the case studies and examples provided in the book

Six other activities

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Participate in a study group on data cleansing techniques

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Encourages collaborative learning and knowledge sharing.

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Find or create a study group focused on data cleansing
Discuss different data cleansing techniques and share experiences
Work together on data cleansing projects

SQL Injection Vulnerabilities and Prevention

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Perform a guided tutorial on SQL Injection vulnerabilities and prevention techniques to enhance your understanding of data security principles.

Browse courses on SQL Injection

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Explore OWASP resources on SQL injection
Review best practices for preventing SQL injection attacks

SQL Queries for Data Cleansing

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Engage in practice drills involving SQL queries specifically designed for data cleansing tasks, reinforcing your ability to handle messy data and improve data quality.

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Practice removing duplicate entries using DISTINCT, GROUP BY, and HAVING clauses
Work on handling missing values using ISNULL(), COALESCE(), and CASE statements
Transform data into consistent formats using CAST(), CONVERT(), and TRY_CONVERT() functions

Practice removing duplicates and handling missing values

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Reinforces your understanding of data cleansing techniques through repetitive practice.

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Create a dataset with duplicate and missing values
Practice removing duplicates using SQL queries
Practice handling missing values using SQL functions

Data Cleansing Project: Real-World Application

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Embark on a project where you apply data cleansing techniques to a real-world dataset, gaining practical experience in identifying and resolving data inconsistencies.

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Select a dataset with data quality issues
Identify and analyze data inconsistencies
Develop and implement data cleansing solutions
Evaluate the results and make recommendations

Contribute to an open-source data cleansing tool

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Provides hands-on experience with data cleansing tools while contributing to the community.

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Find an open-source data cleansing tool that aligns with your interests
Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute
Make code contributions, report bugs, or participate in discussions

Career center

Learners who complete Data Cleansing 101: SQL Server Essentials will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, cleans, analyzes, and interprets data to help businesses make better decisions. Data Analysts must be skilled at manipulating data, using statistical software, and communicating their findings to non-technical audiences. Anyone who wishes to become a Data Analyst would find the Data Cleansing 101: SQL Server Essentials course particularly useful because it provides training in all of these areas. Specifically, this course will help build a foundation for a career as a Data Analyst by teaching the skills needed to identify and resolve data inconsistencies, master essential cleansing techniques, and implement optimal maintenance practices.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Engineer

A Data Engineer designs, builds, and maintains the systems that store and process data. Data Engineers must be skilled at working with large datasets, using data engineering tools, and developing data pipelines. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Data Engineer because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data maintenance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator (DBA) manages and maintains databases. DBAs must be skilled at installing, configuring, and maintaining database software, as well as monitoring database performance and security. This course may be useful for those who want to become a DBA because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data maintenance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Statistician

A Statistician collects, analyzes, interprets, and presents data. Statisticians must be skilled at using statistical software, understanding statistical methods, and communicating their findings to non-technical audiences. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Statistician because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to solve business problems. Data Scientists must be skilled at collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and interpreting data, as well as developing and deploying machine learning models. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Data Scientist because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer designs, builds, and deploys machine learning models. Machine Learning Engineers must be skilled at collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data, as well as developing and deploying machine learning models. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Machine Learning Engineer because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst helps businesses to improve their operations by analyzing data and making recommendations. Business Analysts must be skilled at understanding business needs, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating their findings to stakeholders. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Business Analyst because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. Software Engineers must be skilled at programming, debugging, and testing software. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Software Engineer because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, develops, and maintains websites. Web Developers must be skilled at programming, designing, and testing websites. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Web Developer because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst helps organizations to protect their data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Information Security Analysts must be skilled at understanding security threats, developing security policies, and implementing security solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become an Information Security Analyst because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Risk Analyst

A Risk Analyst helps organizations to identify and manage risks. Risk Analysts must be skilled at understanding risk management frameworks, developing risk management plans, and implementing risk management solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Risk Analyst because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Data Architect

A Data Architect designs and builds the data infrastructure that supports an organization's business needs. Data Architects must be skilled at understanding business needs, designing data models, and implementing data management solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Data Architect because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data maintenance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect

Compliance Analyst

A Compliance Analyst helps organizations to comply with laws and regulations. Compliance Analysts must be skilled at understanding compliance requirements, developing compliance programs, and implementing compliance solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Compliance Analyst because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data analysis.

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Data Governance Analyst

A Data Governance Analyst helps organizations to manage and govern their data. Data Governance Analysts must be skilled at understanding data regulations, developing data policies, and implementing data management solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Data Governance Analyst because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data maintenance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Governance Analyst

Database Designer

A Database Designer designs and builds databases. Database Designers must be skilled at understanding business needs, designing data models, and implementing database management solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become a Database Designer because it provides training in some of the skills needed for this role, such as data cleansing and data maintenance.

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Data Cleansing 101

SQL Server Essentials

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