---
schema_version: "1"
id: 237d967bb01741ff5c34533cabdf7631d3471cae0c6bf3d6a580e58e82cf8c63
title: Connect Data
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/data/264-0-0/c360_a_data_ingestion.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_ingestion.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: d3cef1dc9c2ce74f66a41e5e6918b5d091824103ef7bd2fbea4a7ce292660de6
description: To get started with Data 360, you connect a data source, through either data federation or data ingestion. Data federation sets up direct connectivity with data sources. It uses a zero copy integration that eliminates the need to ingest data into Data 360. During data ingestion, data is brought into Data 360 in its original form and stored in a data lake object (DLO).
products:
  - Data 360
release: "264"
---
# Connect Data

To get started with Data 360, you connect a data source, through either data federation or data ingestion. Data federation sets up direct connectivity with data sources. It uses a zero copy integration that eliminates the need to ingest data into Data 360. During data ingestion, data is brought into Data 360 in its original form and stored in a data lake object (DLO).

![Note](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-data-data_cloud-264-0-0-production-enus/f3569962-3c9b-4f83-9d0c-b6a574e785da/images/icon_note.png)

Note

As of October 14, 2025, Data Cloud has been rebranded to Data 360. During this transition, you may see references to Data Cloud in our application and documentation. While the name is new, the functionality and content remains unchanged.

## Connectors

You can connect data sources, such as Amazon S3, Marketing Cloud Engagement, and Google Storage, to Data 360 using a dedicated connector. Select the data source connector that you want to import data from, and then indicate the objects or dataset that you want to connect. Data 360 retrieves a sample of your data and provides a recommended source schema for your review. Find detailed integration and connector documentation in the [Data Cloud Integration Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-int/guide/c360-a-data-cloud-integrations.html).

## Data Streams

A data stream uses a connector to establish a connection with a data source. A data stream acts as a pipeline for connecting data to Data 360. The ingested data is organized into a schema and stored as data lake objects (DLOs).

When creating a data stream, you specify the category and optionally the event time, primary key, and organization unit identifier. You can enhance your data using formula fields to clean and adjust raw data. You can also configure the scheduling details to manage how often data is refreshed.

- **[Data Object Concepts and Schema in Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_schema_setup_concepts.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    During ingestion, Data 360 retrieves a sample of your data and recommends a source schema. You can then review and modify the recommended schema.
- **[Data Sources in Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_connectors.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Data sources are ingested into or connected to Data 360 in different ways with specific requirements and steps that an admin configures before creating a data stream.
- **[Data Streams in Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_streams.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Data streams are the connections and associated data ingested into Data 360.
- **[Private Connect for Data 360](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_private_connect_data_cloud.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Private Connect uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) PrivateLink to establish a point-to-point network integration between your AWS virtual private cloud (VPC) and your Data 360 tenant. Private Connect provides a connection from Data 360 to your data source without exposing your network traffic to the public internet.

#### See Also

- [_Salesforce Help_: Data Types and Date Formats](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_data_types_and_date_formats.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Data 360 supports date and datetime data types.")
- [_Salesforce Help_: Supported File Formats and Delimiters](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=data.c360_a_supported_file_formats.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Data 360 supports various files and compression formats for your data stream sources.")