# What is Big Data?

Introduction, Types, Characteristics, Examples

Big Data is a collection of data that is huge in volume, yet growing exponentially
with time.
It is a data with so large size and complexity that none of traditional data
management tools can store it or process it efficiently.
Big data is also a data but with huge size.

Example of Big Data?

Following are some of the Big Data examples-
The New York Stock Exchange is an example of Big Data that generates about one
terabyte of new trade data per day.
Social Media
The statistic shows that 500+terabytes of new data get ingested into the
databases of social media site Facebook, every day. This data is mainly generated
in terms of photo and video uploads, message exchanges, putting comments etc.
 # What is Big Data? Introduction, Types,
Characteristics, Examples
A single Jet engine can generate 10+terabytes of data in 30 minutes of
flight time.
Types Of Big Data

Following are the types of Big Data:

1. Structured
2. Unstructured
3. Semi-structured
 # What is Big Data? Introduction, Types,
Characteristics, Examples
Characteristics Of Big Data
Big data can be described by the following characteristics:
• Volume
• Variety
• Velocity
• Variability
(i) Volume – The name Big Data itself is related to a size which is enormous. Size of data plays a
very crucial role in determining value out of data. Also, whether a particular data can actually
be considered as a Big Data or not, is dependent upon the volume of data. Hence, ‘Volume’ is
one characteristic which needs to be considered while dealing with Big Data solutions.
(ii) Variety – The next aspect of Big Data is its variety.

Variety refers to heterogeneous sources and the nature of data, both structured and
unstructured. During earlier days, spreadsheets and databases were the only sources of data
considered by most of the applications. Nowadays, data in the form of emails, photos, videos,
monitoring devices, PDFs, audio, etc. are also being considered in the analysis applications.
This variety of unstructured data poses certain issues for storage, mining and analyzing data.
 # What is Big Data? Introduction, Types,
Characteristics, Examples
(iii) Velocity – The term ‘velocity’ refers to the speed of generation of data. How fast the
data is generated and processed to meet the demands, determines real potential in the
data.
Big Data Velocity deals with the speed at which data flows in from sources like business
processes, application logs, networks, and social media sites, sensors, Mobile devices, etc.
The flow of data is massive and continuous.

(iv) Variability – This refers to the inconsistency which can be shown by the data at times,
thus hampering the process of being able to handle and manage the data effectively.
 # Advantages Of Big Data Processing
i. Improved Decision Making: Provides more accurate and timely decisions based
on comprehensive data analysis.
ii. Cost Reduction: Big data tools can reduce costs through more efficient storage
and processing.
iii. Better customer service: Enables personalized recommendations and better user
experience.
iv. Competitive Advantage: Organizations that can process and analyze big data can
gain insights that give them competitive edge.
v. Innovation: The ability to analyze big data allows for the development of new
products, services, and business models.
 #

# Need / Importance of Big Data

Big Data does not take care of how much data is there, but how it can be used. Data can be taken
from various sources for analyzing it and finding answers which enable:

i. • Reduction in cost.

ii. • Time reductions.

iii. • New product development with optimized offers.

iv. • Well-groomed decision making.

 # Challenges of Big data

1) Rapid Data Growth: The growth velocity at such a high rate creates a problem
to look for insights using it. There no 100% efficient way to filter out relevant
data.
2) Storage: The generation of such a massive amount of data needs space for
storage, and organizations face challenges to handle such extensive data
without suitable tools and technologies.
3) Unreliable Data: It cannot be guaranteed that the big data collected and
analyzed are totally (100%) accurate. Redundant data, contradicting data, or
incomplete data are challenges that remain within it.
4) Data Security: Firms and organizations storing such massive data (of users) can
be a target of cybercriminals, and there is a risk of data getting stolen. Hence,
encrypting such colossal data is also a challenge for firms and organizations.
# Introduction to Big Data platform

A big data platform is a comprehensive system designed to process, store, and analyze large
volumes of data that exceed the capabilities of traditional databases. These platforms integrate
a wide range of technologies, including data storage, processing engines (like Hadoop or
Spark), and tools for data analytics and visualization.
1. Big data platform is a type of IT solution that combines the features and
capabilities of several big data application and utilities within a single solution.
2. It is an enterprise class IT platform that enables organization in developing,
deploying, operating and managing a big data infrastructure/ environment.
3. Big data platform generally consists of big data storage, servers, database, big data
management, business intelligence and other big data management utilities.
4. It also supports custom development, querying and integration with other
systems.
5. The primary benefit behind a big data platform is to reduce the complexity of
multiple
vendors/ solutions into a one cohesive solution.
6. Big data platform are also delivered through cloud where the provider provides an
all inclusive big data solutions and services.
# Features of Big Data analytics platform

1. Big Data platform should be able to accommodate new platforms and tool based on
the business requirement.

2. It should support linear scale-out.

3. It should have capability for rapid deployment.

4. It should support variety of data format.

5. Platform should provide data analysis and reporting tools.

6. It should provide real-time data analysis software.

7. It should have tools for searching the data through large data sets.
# Why there is need of data analytics ?

1. Informed Decision-Making: It enables organizations to make data-driven

decisions, reducing guesswork and increasing accuracy in business strategies.
2. Identifying Trends and Patterns: Analyzing data helps uncover trends, patterns,
and correlations that may not be immediately obvious, offering insights into
customer behavior, market trends, and operational inefficiencies.
3. Improving Efficiency: Data analytics can optimize processes, reduce costs, and
increase operational efficiency by identifying areas of waste or inefficiency.
4. Enhancing Customer Experience: By analyzing customer data, organizations can
tailor products, services, and interactions to meet customer needs more
effectively, improving satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Competitive Advantage: Companies that leverage data analytics can gain a
competitive edge by anticipating market trends, optimizing pricing strategies,
and staying ahead of competitors.
6. Risk Management: Analytics helps organizations predict and mitigate risks,
from financial risks to operational or market-based risks, enabling better
preparedness for challenges.