There’s certainly plenty of hype surrounding Big Data and cloud computing. Most businesses have likely looked into both technologies, if they havent adopted them in some form already. Taken separately, Big Data and the cloud can prove very beneficial to a company, providing numerous advantages that could give them the upper hand in an increasingly competitive business environment. While each technology is valuable on its own, many businesses are attempting to combine them in an effort to reap even more benefits. In fact, according to a survey taken in early 2014, roughly 80 percent of respondents said combining Big Data with cloud computing had led to a transformational impact in their organizations. Many industries around the world are waking up to the revolutionary change that can be brought about through the cloud and Big Data, and those that use both of them in tandem are realizing just how effective of a combination they can be.
The main use of Big Data is usually done through Big Data analytics. As cloud computing has improved and become more available, more companies are choosing to use Big Data analytics in the cloud. By utilizing the cloud for this purpose, businesses are able to derive better analysis from the large amounts of structured and unstructured data in their possession. This attribute of the cloud has proven so valuable that Big Data is even driving the adoption of cloud computing across numerous industries and enterprises. Cloud computing is much cheaper for companies to use when compared to the large-scale Big Data resources that organizations have used before. The cloud also makes it much easier for companies to integrate data from numerous different sources and databases. Cloud computing can also produce better results with a more consistent performance.
Using the cloud also makes Big Data much more accessible in one straightforward way: it simplifies a businesss infrastructure. Analyzing Big Data can be a tremendous strain on infrastructure because the data comes in large volumes, different speeds, and various types which can be hard for more traditional infrastructures to keep up with. The cloud can solve the problems posed by these added workloads because cloud computing provides flexible infrastructure, which can be scaled according to the companys needs at the time. Not only can it be scaled up and down, but it can be done through easy and convenient means. It can also integrate new workloads without much problem. So the relationship between the cloud and Big Data is almost symbiotic–businesses want to use Big Data, so they get the cloud, which in turn allows them to more easily use Big Data.
The benefits that come from using Big Data analytics and cloud computing are almost too numerous to mention in just one article, but here are just a few to keep in mind. This combination can decrease operating costs (like not having to invest in new infrastructure), which can help out a companys bottom line. In addition to that, the cloud and Big Data can increase revenue while also creating new revenue streams. Both technologies can also help businesses better understand their customers. This can be seen particularly in customer relationship management (CRM) software–Salesforce being one of the more popular examples of this idea in action. The full view of customers provided by the cloud and Big Data helps businesses plan for the future and understand how products and services are being received in greater detail.
One of the biggest areas where both technologies can have a lasting impact is among small and medium-sized businesses. As mentioned above, cloud computing brings the overall cost of engaging in Big Data analytics down, which allows businesses with more limited resources and budgets access to it. According to some recent research, about 18 percent of small businesses and 57 percent of medium businesses currently use analytics solutions. But with the cloud becoming more prominent, those numbers are expected to increase over the next few years. As more small businesses adopt Big Data and the cloud, theyll be able to speed up their product development cycle, respond to changing market conditions more quickly, and open up new markets that werent available to them before. Needless to say, cloud computing and Big Data can be game changers for smaller enterprises.
While challenges still exist, like data storage capabilities, its clear that the cloud and Big Data are an effective and powerful duo. By combining both of them, businesses can truly take advantage of the unique benefits each one offers. They improve each other, highlighting their strengths and even minimizing certain weaknesses. Put simply, Big Data and the cloud are a team that should be part of any organization looking to make its mark in the world.
