> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hightouch.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Technical setup (Data teams & engineers) > Connect your data warehouse, configure sync infrastructure, and prepare datasets so marketers can build and activate audiences directly in Hightouch. > [!NOTE] > > New to Hightouch's data model? The [**Data activation > concepts**](https://docs.hightouch.com/getting-started/concepts.md) page explains sources, models, syncs, > destinations, and Change Data Capture (CDC). This article focuses on the > hands-on setup work for data teams. ## Before you begin * Workspace created by your platform admin * Warehouse credentials (Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, or Redshift) * A role with permission to create sources, models, and syncs ## Setup steps ### 1. Connect your data Connect your warehouse as the **source of truth** for all activation. 1. Add your primary data source (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift) from **Integrations**, then **Sources**. 2. During source setup, select the [**Lightning sync engine**](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/lightning-sync-engine.md) **(recommended)**. Lightning computes [change data capture](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/cdc.md) directly in your warehouse for faster, more reliable syncs. It is required for [Journeys](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/journeys.md), [Sampling](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/sampling.md), [Warehouse Sync Logs](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/warehouse-sync-logs.md), [Identity Resolution](https://hightouch.com/platform/identity-resolution), and other advanced features. 3. **(Optional)** Connect additional data sources such as databases, APIs, or SaaS tools if they’re part of your activation strategy. [**Sources overview**](https://docs.hightouch.com/sources/overview.md) ![Reverse ETL flow: source to model to sync to destination](https://mintcdn.com/hightouch-3c037897/L_vQfA0JQEpeGUUo/images/get-started/reverse-etl-diagram.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=L_vQfA0JQEpeGUUo\&q=85\&s=1d150ddb9480d3ccb188c5977db55596)\ *Hightouch syncs modeled data from your warehouse to destinations through sources, models, and syncs.* ### 2. Configure sync infrastructure Set up the remaining systems that power reliable syncs between your warehouse and marketing tools. 1. [**Warehouse Sync Logs**](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/warehouse-sync-logs.md)\ Write sync metadata (row counts, errors, and rejected records) back to your warehouse for monitoring and visibility. 2. [**Destinations**](https://docs.hightouch.com/destinations/overview.md)\ Connect downstream tools (e.g., Braze, Salesforce, ad platforms) where marketers will activate audiences and campaigns. Either data teams or platform admins can own this step. ### 3. Define your schema Define the data structure that marketers will use in Customer Studio to build audiences and campaigns. This is typically a **one-time setup owned by data teams**, though you may revisit it as new data becomes available. * **Parent model:** The main dataset (for example, your `users` table) * **Related models:** Supporting entities such as accounts, subscriptions, or products * **Events:** Timestamped actions (purchases, logins, cancellations) * **Relationships:** Connections between models via foreign keys * **[Traits](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/traits.md):** Computed values like aggregations, most-recent values, or custom formulas that marketers can use as filters. If a marketer can't find the right attribute, it usually means a trait or schema change is needed here. * **[General models](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/general-models.md) (optional):** Warehouse tables available for agent queries but not used in audiences or syncs. Add these when agents need access to data outside your Customer Studio schema, such as sales figures or product catalogs. [**Define data schema**](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/schema.md) ![Schema builder](https://mintcdn.com/hightouch-3c037897/L_vQfA0JQEpeGUUo/images/hightouch-audiences/schema/cs-schema.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=L_vQfA0JQEpeGUUo\&q=85\&s=b32b441a43259a78dc937eb5c622f9fc)\ *Data teams define parent, related, and event models, including traits. Marketers use these attributes in Customer Studio to build audiences.* ### 4. Security and change management Security and workspace-level governance are usually managed by platform admins. As a data team, coordinate with IT to ensure: * **Environments** are available for staging models and syncs * **Audit logs** and **approval flows** are enabled per compliance policies [**Workspace setup (Platform admins)**](https://docs.hightouch.com/getting-started/it.md) ### 5. Set up additional products If your team uses other Hightouch products, each has its own setup guide. | Product | Setup docs | | - | - | | Identity Resolution | [Identity Resolution overview](https://hightouch.com/platform/identity-resolution) | | Events | [Events overview](https://docs.hightouch.com/events/overview.md) | | Match Booster | [Match Booster overview](https://docs.hightouch.com/match-booster/overview.md) | | Real-Time Personalization | [Set up realtime audiences](https://docs.hightouch.com/real-time/setup.md) | For an overview of how the marketing workflow fits together, see [Daily usage for marketers](https://docs.hightouch.com/getting-started/business.md). ## Readiness checklist Before marketers can build audiences and activate data, confirm the following is in place. * [ ] Primary data source connected with the [Lightning sync engine](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/lightning-sync-engine.md) (recommended) * [ ] At least one [destination connected](https://docs.hightouch.com/destinations/overview.md) (either data team or platform admin) * [ ] [Warehouse Sync Logs](https://docs.hightouch.com/syncs/warehouse-sync-logs.md) enabled for monitoring * [ ] [Schema defined](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/schema.md) with parent model, related models, events, and relationships * [ ] [Traits](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/traits.md) created for any computed values marketers will need as filters * [ ] Marketers can see the right data in the audience builder (check with your platform admin if Spaces or [subsets](https://docs.hightouch.com/customer-studio/subsets.md) are in use)