Big data is not just a fad. Like new technology trends such as cloud computing it is going to have its place in the world – and in the technology arena. It is also going to have a major impact on companies – and the question is: just how are companies going to manage zettabytes of data?
Johann Evans, chief technology officer of unified data management company, Cherry Olive – and a big data protagonist – says: “Big data isn’t arriving. It is already here.”
“Big data gives us a look at the virtually limitless nature of computing resources at the world’s disposal. Where 30 years ago an 8-bit computer with 256Kb of RAM (Random Access Memory) was about as good as it got, now we have smartphones that are like mini computers – and we are starting to regard terabytes like kilobytes
“The huge repositories of information around the globe, which get bigger every day – have given birth to the term ‘big data’. Although it would appear that few people like this term, no-one has come up with a better one – so, for the moment, we are stuck with the phrase, or name, big data.”
Evans says when talking about big data one can be sure of one thing – that it won’t be long before Google and Amazon enter the fray.
“They haven’t as yet. Well, at least not on a commercial level. However, once they start finding ways to develop it commercially – and essentially monetise big data –they are going to be responsible for, arguably, taking big data to the next level. This is because these two companies, alone, represent two of the biggest data stores in the world – data stores that are measured in exabytes and petabytes.”
Evans says that Amazon and Google measure their files on individuals and companies in the multiple millions.
“But how do they manage this data? Big databases help. But it goes beyond this. It boils down to the harnessing of myriad layers of software and hardware, from multiple sources and locations – finally coming down to finding the right data.
“This data has to be correctly managed and arranged. It has to be clean, accurate and appropriate – and come from a mixture of sources, including external sources.
“The bottom-line is that if the data is clean, accurate and appropriate, then the correct use of the data will put the organisation in question in a very powerful position. Such a company would certainly have a massive edge in the marketplace.
“How we look at data, how we approach it – and slice and dice it – is now completely different. We are entering into a whole new realm where huge databases just no longer cut it. We are going where no man, or computer, has gone before.”
