Linked Data with its use of Resource Description Framework "triples" (subject - predicate - object) for expressing every basic "fact" poses very different demands from conventional enterprise data.  Though RDF "triplestores" are both relational and structured, design and architecture for performing at scale are quite different than the standard relational database management system (RDBMS).

For example, Linked Data is more naturally organized around the idea of the graph (for each different dataset, with superior designs thus better represented as a "quad" by adding the graph ID to the triple) rather than a table.  Indexing, retrieval and full-text searching also impose different design choices from a conventional RDBMS.

Normally a Linked Data deployment must progress through a chain of data conversion, to  ontology development, and then Linked Data exposure and access. Decisions regarding hosting or "cloud" computing and site design and use must also be made.

Our Linked Data deployments are based on the Zitgist Linked Data Platform (zLDP), which itself is built upon OpenLink's Virtuoso software with additional Zitgist components.  Virtuoso is a middleware platform that integrates a database server optimized for both RDBMS and RDF, with Web application and semantic Web services, all combined with universal data access and conversion protocols for linked and conventional data sources.  Virtuoso routinely wins RDF performance benchmarks.

Zitgist provides Linked Data deployment services for either internal enterprise use or public Web access.  We invite you to contact us for a no-obligation consultation on possible projects.