The term big data is familiar to anyone with even a passing interest in the world of information technology (IT). Big data is not a new concept. However, recent technological advancements and cultural shifts have contributed to its rising level of prominence in the world of organizations and society. This whitepaper will explore the characteristics of big data, how organizations are using it, and potential concerns about its use.

Advances in technology led to the ability to store digitally vast quantities of data in a reduced physical footprint. These advances also led to new methods of rapidly generating more information. These techniques have led to a tremendous increase in the rate of data creation. It is estimated that by 2025 the data stores of the world will contain an incredible 175 zettabytes of data. A zettabyte is a trillion gigabytes, and a gigabyte can hold over 650,000 pages of text or upwards of 15,000 images. It is an almost unimaginable amount of data.

The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the consumer Internet have been significant contributors to the increased rates of information creation. Most of the data stores of the world have been generated in the last few years in terms of sheer volume. This trend shows no signs of slowing down as the percentage of the population with access to the Internet grows, and the use of smart technology increases.

The vast repositories of information resulting from this escalating production make up the entity known as big data. It refers to massive amounts of structured and unstructured data that traditional databases and software approaches cannot process efficiently.

This whitepaper describes what big data is, characteristics and types of big data, collection of big data, organization uses of big data, challenges of analyzing big data, and concerns over big data collection.

Presenter: Robert Agar

Robert Agar spent a long and diverse career specializing in data backup, recovery, and compliance among other areas of the IT world. Tired of being woken up at all hours to provide support, he embarked on a new career as a freelance writer focusing on various areas of the tech sector. Outside interests include music, sports, and poker. He shares his home office with two green-cheeked conures who suggest topics and engage in the occasional proofreading exercise.

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Topics: Database Diagnostics, Database Monitoring
Products: SQL Management Suite, SQL Diagnostic Manager for SQL Server, SQL Discovery and Tuning Suite