Crafting formidable data structures: Creating the indestructible
In today's fast-paced digital world, the adoption of big data technologies and open-source products, particularly NoSQL solutions, is surging. This shift is largely due to the inability of traditional, blue-chip dinosaurs to be reactive and agile in the face of rapid change.
Big data, a technology that transforms data into valuable information, is no longer a novel concept. It's becoming a cornerstone of business strategy, with CIOs being tasked to enable their businesses to move faster without infrastructure downtime. The goal is to accelerate application performance, provide high availability, and often do so while operating under budget constraints.
One of the key benefits of big data infrastructure investment is the return on investment (ROI). This comes from saving money in the long run and increasing the scope for extra revenue with the opportunities that big data technologies create.
However, the path to harnessing the power of big data is not without its challenges. Alex McMullan, Field CTO at Pure Storage, points out that the cost of manipulating and conducting complex analysis on large volumes of data can be prohibitive and slow. This is where open-source and cloud-compatible technologies come into play, making it easier for companies to get up and running more quickly and effectively.
The relational database management system, once the ubiquitous platform for enterprise data, is being challenged by the big data trend. NoSQL systems are seeking to disrupt the status quo, offering flexibility to handle and stream both structured and unstructured data in real time, and scalability to add resources on demand.
Distributed file system Hadoop and parallel processing framework MapReduce have made massive inroads as CIOs recognise the scope for processing large data sets. However, many organisations still struggle to master the value part of big data, and more are behind in deploying next-generation infrastructure systems to support it.
Phil Greenwood, commercial director at Iron Mountain, advises opting for progress over perfection and implementing data management policies consistently across the business. Paul Harrison, storage director at Dell UK, emphasizes the importance of choosing a solution that provides value without disrupting the organization's daily operations.
The business advantages of big data technologies are clear. They offer the potential for better products and experiences, as well as cost savings with the combination of commodity hardware and open source. However, security is a critical consideration. Matt Davies, EMEA marketing manager at Splunk, highlights the significance of considering security when deciding how much data to store, as discarded data may contain insights useful for identifying cyber attacks.
Yanhua Xiao, big data solution CMO at Huawei, emphasizes that scale-out architecture is the answer to the data growth challenge, and that legacy infrastructure is not designed for variety data and data-intensive compute. Andy Shepherd, principal architect at Fujitsu UK and Ireland, warns against assuming that new data-driven insights will automatically result in business performance improvements without sufficient business commitment to applying the insights.
Matt Starr, CTO of Spectra Logic, warns that expanding older architecture beyond its meaningful scope can lead to systems breaking down. This is a risk that many organisations may face as they seek to capitalise on the opportunities offered by big data technologies.
The so-called Black Friday and Cyber Monday spikes of retail demand have caused many well-known brands to crash web servers and bring down websites, leading to customer dissatisfaction and moves to competitors. Using data can help businesses anticipate and manage such spikes, leading to improved customer experiences and increased profitability.
Major companies and organisations, including EnBW and the Swiss federal archives and hospitals, are modernising their large-scale data storage systems to prepare for the next decade. These investments reflect a broader trend toward sustainable and future-proof infrastructure investments in industries like energy and public services.
In conclusion, the rise of big data and open-source solutions presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses. By understanding these technologies, implementing them thoughtfully, and committing to using the insights they provide, businesses can position themselves for success in the digital age.
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