What is the primary purpose of an access layer in a data architecture?

The primary purpose of an access layer in a data architecture is indeed to allow users to read data without permitting modifications. This layer serves as a boundary that enables users to query and retrieve data efficiently while maintaining the integrity and security of the database by restricting any changes to the data.

In this context, the design of the access layer is critical because it facilitates controlled access to the underlying data stores, ensuring that users can derive insights and perform analytics without the risk of accidentally altering the data. This separation of read and write permissions is a foundational principle in data security and management, preventing unauthorized modifications while promoting effective data retrieval.

The other options focus on different aspects of data management. For instance, modifying data is typically handled at other layers of the architecture, such as the application layer. Integrating different data sources is more aligned with data integration layers or ETL processes. Summarizing and transforming data generally takes place in processing or transformation layers rather than the access layer, which is specifically designed for data retrieval and access management.