Big data: not just a buzzword but a fact of life

Big data. These two words have surfaced on almost every technology outlet recently and many people have been as uninspired by them as they were by the word “cloud”. The problem is that while it is an intellectually understandable concept – human beings are generating data at an astonishing rate – there is no clear explanation as to what this actually means for the user, the business or the world.

Let’s start by analysing what the term big data means. There is an infographic created by DOMO and Column Five Media that shows exactly how much data we generate every minute. Some of the more impressive statistics include: 571 new websites, 217 new users, 48 hours of YouTube footage uploaded, over two million Google search queries, and around 648 478 Facebook users sharing content every minute.

These figures are astonishing and that’s not all, the global internet population grew by 6.59% from 2010 to 2011 and now represents 2.1-billion people. It is a staggering figure and one that is continuing to rise on a daily basis. Big data is more than just the sum of all this traffic, it’s information, money, details, power — and where is it going? Who has access to the data you create? How is it being stored and is it secure?

Suddenly, the data centre of old has shifted from a boring beige room into something that’s interesting, and in sore need of some attention.

Few businesses have built data centres that can handle the enormous influx of data that is being created today. And if they don’t adapt, things can go horribly wrong. Ever spent the day at work without any access to technology? Been without your cloud data? These issues will only get worse if infrastructure isn’t built to cope with big data. It is made even more interesting when you consider how it plays into the Internet of Things. This consists of everything that connects to the internet, not just desktops and laptops, but domestic appliances, cars, industrial devices and even your toaster.

Thanks to the cost of computer chips dropping dramatically, along with their capability increasing at almost exactly the same rate, you can now put one onto almost any device. This means that your fridge can tell you that you need to buy meat, and your car will direct you to the garage if you’re low on petrol. So, how much data will be generated by this? The estimate is that it will be in the zettabytes which is 1 000 exabytes that is 1 000 000 petabytes that equals 1 000 000 000 terabytes which are 1 000 000 000 000 gigabytes. Astonished yet?

Big data is here and business leaders need to set up plan for how they are going to manage, control and leverage that data. It’s a valuable commodity and can be used to drive businesses, social interaction and so much more. The only way forward is to revitalise the outdated data centres stuffed into dark corners and give them the tools to change the way people interact with and utilise big data.