The category of data services is quite broad. Data services can help with the aggregation of data from various parts of an architecture, or in the creation of a central data center repository. Data services may deal with data in transit, or with storage. Data services could also perform various types of analytics on big data sets.

Data services also come with their own benefits and disadvantages. Some of the biggest benefits include scalability and cost efficiency. For example, using third-party data services can allow companies to avoid maintaining hardware such as servers and other equipment. Some of the biggest drawbacks of data services involve the security of data in the usability of services. For instance, companies worry about what happens if the provider's service goes down, and how the company retains control of data, which is one of its most valuable assets.